Gregg Wallace 'banned' from BBC over 'unsafe' behaviour as scathing letter issued

Gregg Wallace has been banned from working at the BBC after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct. Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC Television, has made it clear in a letter of dismissal that Wallace, 60, will not work for the broadcaster after the corporation ruled that he was not safe to have in the workplace. Wallace, 60, was told that executives did not "have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour". The BBC said they took into account his autism diagnosis when determining the judgement, but concluded that he "struggled to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace".

Wallace was forced to step down from MasterChef in November after a number of allegations were made against him, including inappropriate sexual behaviour such as groping and touching. The report into his behaviour, commissioned by Masterchef producers Banijay after the initial allegations were made and conducted by Lewis Silkin, is yet to be published, but is believed to have cleared Wallace of the most serious allegations of groping. The dismissal letter, obtained by the Telegraph, said the BBC had taken into account that "you were a presenter on a flagship BBC show" and noted "the impact that your comments had on the BBC's reputation".

The letter continued: "I have also taken into account whether your behaviour could be improved with training and/or coaching. However, having reviewed the 2025 findings, I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the working environment, without understanding the boundaries of what is appropriate.

"I also have to consider the fact that various people in the BBC have spoken to you about your behaviour over the course of your career, and that you also already received training/coaching in 2019. I also have to consider the fact that various people in the BBC have spoken to you about your behaviour over the course of your career, and that you also already received training/coaching in 2019. I have further taken into account the 2025 Findings as they relate to your health and recent autism diagnosis (as you have publicly stated).

"I have noted that you do not consider certain environments to now be 'safe' for you. In addition to the duty of care towards you, the BBC equally to take into account the safety and duty of care owed towards contributors, members of the public and colleagues on production teams that you may engage with and the appropriate use of licence fee payers' money in establishing a safe working environment for all.

"The 2025 Findings reflect that you acknowledge some of your comments have offended or upset people, but it is clear that you struggle to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, as well as lacking awareness of why your behaviour impacts others."

The letter added: "I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change to ensure there is a sufficiently safe and respectful environment for others working with you in the types of programmes the BBC has engaged you to present.

"Such productions are not heavily scripted programmes and involve sound and consistent levels of judgment in relation to interactions with others which cannot constantly be monitored or supervised."

Wallace has apologised for some of the claims about his use of inappropriate "humour and language". But he has insisted that the most damaging claims against him are "baseless" and that he has been unfairly targeted by the BBC.

The presenter accused the BBC of failing "to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years". However, he has since come under fire for using his autism as an excuse for his alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Emily Banks, founder of neurodiversity training body Enna, criticised Wallace, telling BBC News: "To be clear: being autistic is never an excuse for misconduct. It doesn't absolve anyone of responsibility, and it certainly doesn't mean you can't tell the difference between right and wrong."

Earlier in the week, the BBC received 50 new allegations against Wallace, including that he groped a worker on the show. He has vehemently denied all the claims. Wallace is reportedly planning to sue the BBC for discrimination.

"He's been formally diagnosed with autism - a recognised disability - and yet the BBC is effectively saying it can't cope with a disabled person," a friend of Wallace's said. "Wrap that in as many safeguarding policies as you like, it still sounds a lot like discrimination. This is why he has been sacked."