MatserChef's Christmas specials have been pulled following the complaints about host Gregg Wallace.
Wallace, 60, has stepped away from the BBC cooking show while a probe into historic allegations against him takes place. He has been accused by 13 people of making inappropriate sexual remarks across several shows over a 17-year period.
Wallace has previously denied making inappropriate sexual comments and his lawyers told BBC News 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'. He has apologised for claiming those complaining about him were "middle-class women of a certain age".
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Two Christmas specials were planned, both of which were set to air on BBC One later this month. However, the organisation has revealed these will no longer air due to the "current circumstances".
A BBC spokesperson said: “As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
"The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.”
Three episodes of BBC Two’s Inside the Factory, which are repeats, are also being removed from the schedule, the BBC said. The broadcaster previously said all MasterChef episodes filmed would be aired as planned, including the festive specials.
The BBC said in a press release on Friday (November 29) that viewers could "expect fireworks, great Christmas banter and good food" from the Christmas editions. The first special, a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off, was due to feature The Wanted singer Max George, Emmerdale actress Amy Walsh, Love Island star Luca Bish and comedian Shazia Mira.
The second, titled MasterChef Meets Strictly Festive Extravaganza, had Strictly Come Dancing stars Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu, with Motsi Mabuse setting a challenge.
It comes after Wallace apologised for claiming complaints against him came from "a handful of middle-class women of a certain age". These claims, made in a video posted on Sunday, sparked a huge backlash from people online, including Channel 4 presenter Kirstie Allsopp.
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In a video posted to his Instagram story on Monday, he said: "I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday, and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.
"I wasn't in a good head space when I posted it. I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege, yesterday, when I posted it."
He concluded: "It's obvious to me I need to take some time out while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology."
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