He alleged the “abuse” of contestants was widespread by the “production team”, however was too scared to talk out after signing a non-disclosure settlement.
The contestant, who didn’t want to be recognized, informed Sky’s arts and leisure correspondent Katie Spencer: “I was horrified. I’d never seen anything like it, genuinely, I was really quite shocked at that really toxic environment.
“What I witnessed… as a contestant was that there was a systemic downside that was bigger than simply him, for my part.
“Gregg… would occasionally crack jokes that in different ways felt inappropriate but he wasn’t the only one.”
Wallace has stepped again from presenting the BBC cooking present MasterChef after accusations he made sexual feedback in direction of workers and movie star visitors on a variety of programmes over 17 years.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is amongst 13 individuals who have made claims, with Wallace being investigated by MasterChef’s manufacturing firm Banijay UK.
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Wallace blames ‘middle-class ladies’
The previous contestant stated he was “not for one second wanting to let Gregg Wallace off the hook, but I don’t think it’s just him”.
“My concern is that he’s being totally scapegoated for a culture that… was more often than not that about mocking. It was offensive.”
He stated: “You know, I think it’s good that these things are coming out and I’m glad that people are speaking up, it’s brilliant. But I do think it’s the tip of the iceberg. I think if you were to really unravel and look at what was going on in that culture at large you’d see a lot more, you know, abuse.”
The contestant was so shocked by what he noticed on the primary day of filming, he stated he needed to go away.
“I don’t know why I didn’t actually. But I think it was partly because I was just too embarrassed. I didn’t want to be humiliated,” he stated.
“I felt the only way I’m going to go is just to cook something awful and be thrown off the show. And I suppose my own pride got the better of me. And I thought, no, I didn’t want to cook something awful. So I kept going.”
When it comes to the language he claimed he witnessed, he stated Wallace was “the least offensive”.
“I mean, there was effings and c**** and twats and all sorts and that that was the kind of language you kind of got used to, particularly from some of the camera crew, but also a couple of the producers too. He was the least sweary person,” he stated.
“I think I got off pretty lightly, but I’d see the other contestants and just [be] thinking I would have been very upset if that person had that said that to me.”
When requested by Spencer if the digital camera crew and administrators had been concerned, he replied: “Producers as well… it wasn’t everybody, of course, and some people I thought were incredibly respectful and very professional. So it certainly wasn’t everyone, but there was certainly people from all levels of the organisation.
“It was all males… I do not suppose I ever witnessed any of the ladies collaborating in it. I feel there was a form of disconnection inside the crew at giant… between a few of the males and the ladies.”
He additionally claimed he witnessed inappropriate feedback being made to a different contestant.
“I remember thinking, do I say something here or will that mean I’m going to be thrown off? And there were a couple of times where I thought I am just going to walk off now. And then I thought, what does that really mean? You know, what if I just walk off, am I going to be thrown off?” he stated.
“The contract we signed, the nondisclosure contracts and the wording was, you’re not supposed to talk at all about anything that goes on… you’re slightly terrified. I mean I remember not saying a thing about some things at the time. Just thinking could I just be dragged into court.”
Now, when anybody brings up the present, he stated he’ll attempt to change the topic.
“I haven’t talked about it for a long time,” he stated.
“I really wouldn’t be seen dead watching that programme anymore… I’ve seen too much behind the scenes.”
He added: “I remember thinking, ‘gosh do the BBC really know what’s going on? Is this okay? Is this how TV works? Is this how, you know, the BBC operates?’ I had all those questions at the time.”
A BBC supply stated: “While we are not going to comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, particularly when there is an ongoing process in place being run by Banijay who have the direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace, it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us – not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken.
“We proceed to induce warning about pre-judging any of this, significantly the involvement of BBC workers members and any inference they haven’t acted appropriately.”
Banijay UK said the complaints were made to the BBC this week by “people in relation to historic allegations of misconduct whereas working with Gregg Wallace on one in every of our reveals”.
The company said the 60-year-old, who has been a co-presenter and judge of the popular cooking show since 2005, was “dedicated to totally co-operating all through the method”.
“While these complainants haven’t raised the allegations straight with our present producers or father or mother firm Banijay UK, we really feel that it’s applicable to conduct a right away, exterior evaluate to totally and impartially examine,” the company said.
“Whereas this evaluate is below approach, Gregg Wallace will likely be stepping away from his function on MasterChef and is dedicated to totally co-operating all through the method.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
“While these are historic allegations, incidences dropped at our consideration the place these expectations usually are not met, are completely investigated and addressed appropriately.”
