MasterChef's Gregg Wallace has addressed an inappropriate behaviour claim that was made about him in 2018.
The TV presenter and competition judge was at the centre of a BBC probe six years ago regarding the panel show Impossible Celebrities. He was accused of making inappropriate comments to a younger woman and taking his top off in front of her.
After the story was circulated in The Sun as a front-page story over the weekend, Wallace responded in a now-deleted Instagram video (archived via Metro).
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"With reference to what's in the newspapers, these allegations were investigated by the BBC six years ago, and my comments were found to be not sexual. I repeat not sexual. Thank you," he said.
"Something else that I feel very strongly about, strong enough to be on here, nobody six years ago or since has accused me of flirting with anyone or hitting on anyone, and that is important to me, and I say this for my wife [Anne-Marie Sterpini], who I have been true to and madly in love with since the day I met her.
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"I don't want anyone to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that and I never have."
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A statement from the BBC in the tabloid's story read: "Whilst we do not comment on individuals, if issues are raised they are dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time.
"We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour and have robust processes in place."
Wallace declined to comment to The Sun. Digital Spy has also reached out to Wallace's representatives for comment.
Last year, there were reports that Wallace was "rude towards staff" and had been "talking in a derogatory manner, especially to women" on his show Inside the Factory.
He denied that he departed the show due to the allegations, but admitted that there was "an argument" during production.
Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.
