The BBC faced mounting pressure on Monday to remove one of its most beloved and enduring shows, MasterChef, from the airwaves in response to allegations that one of the program's hosts engaged in sexually harassing behavior. Presenter Gregg Wallace has vehemently denied making any 'inappropriate' sexual jokes or comments, despite over a dozen individuals coming forward last week with accusations that span a 17-year period. This controversy marks the latest in a series of scandals to tarnish the reputation of the taxpayer-funded British broadcaster.
Another flagship show, Strictly Come Dancing, was plunged into crisis earlier this year due to bullying allegations. Additionally, former top news anchor Huw Edwards pleaded guilty in July to creating indecent images of children, narrowly escaping jail time in a dramatic fall from grace. The production company behind MasterChef, a long-standing BBC show whose format is now produced in over 50 countries and broadcast in more than 200 territories, has announced it is investigating the claims against Wallace. During this investigation, Wallace will step down from presenting duties, but the current season of MasterChef: The Professionals will continue to air.
The allegations against Wallace surfaced from a BBC News investigation, which also revealed that the broadcaster had previously warned the presenter following a complaint in 2018. Wallace further incited backlash when he commented on Sunday that the allegations were made by 'a handful of middle-class women of a certain age'. One of his accusers responded that these comments demonstrated he 'clearly hasn't learnt his lesson'. Labour MP Rupa Huq, a member of parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee, suggested on Monday that the broadcaster should consider halting the current season as well as upcoming Christmas episodes.
'I think possibly there is an argument for pausing while this investigation takes its course,' Huq told BBC radio, emphasizing that the broadcaster 'should send a strong signal [about] this sort of behaviour'. She also noted that 'apparently this is not the first time, there were warnings before'. This raises the question of whether the BBC's investigations were taken seriously or if they were merely paying lip service to the issue.
Wallace's legal representatives have stated that 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'. A BBC spokesperson reiterated that the broadcaster has 'robust processes' in place to handle complaints 'swiftly and appropriately', and that it 'will always listen if people want to make us aware of something directly'.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
