Melanie Sykes quit TV over Gregg Wallace's 'jaw-dropping' behaviour on BBC MasterChef set
by Lee Grimsditch · Manchester Evening NewsFormer Celebrity MasterChef contestant Melanie Sykes has revealed that she made an informal complaint about Gregg Wallace's behaviour after working with him on the BBC show. Melanie, 54, who competed on the celebrity edition of MasterChef in 2021, has spoken out about her experience in her memoir Illuminated and in a YouTube video.
Her comments have resurfaced following the news that Gregg, 60, has stepped down from his role on the show while production company Banijay UK investigates historical misconduct complaints. Gregg's lawyers have denied allegations of sexually harassing behaviour, calling them "entirely false".
Melanie claimed that Gregg made an "unprofessional" comment when they first met on set, asking if models eat, which she attributed to "ignorance and disrespect with an extra helping of arrogance". She also alleged that he spent time "barking orders" during filming.
In her book, she shared sharp observations about her time on MasterChef: "The MasterChef experience continued to be an eye-opener, and some unprofessional behaviour on set was jaw-dropping."
According to The Telegraph, she also recounted a moment with Gregg, saying: "I didn't know what to say, so I smiled and said yes, but I was really thinking, 'Yes, you have finally helped me decide to end my television career once and for all'", reports the Mirror.
Addressing the issue in a recent video, Melanie said: "I complained afterwards. I said I didn't want to make a formal complaint because, honestly, I'd spend my whole time in litigation if I did that, and I think that's one of the reasons why people don't go for it.
(Image: BBC/PA Wire)
"Every time Gregg came over to the desk, I didn't really like him being around really... because it's all about vibrations and energy." It follows the news that Gregg has temporarily left MasterChef amidst ongoing investigations into claims by 13 individuals alleging he made inappropriate sexual remarks over a span of 17 years on various programmes.
Wallace addressed his followers in a weekend video, stating: "I have been doing MasterChef for 20 years - amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef - and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds [and] all walks of life. And apparently now I am reading in the paper there's been 13 complaints in that time. Now in the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef. This isn't right."
He continued: "In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo. Can you imagine?"
However, he later apologised for any hurt his comments may have caused, saying: "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 headspace 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. It's obvious to me I need to take some time out, now, while this investigation is under way I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology."
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Last week, Banijay UK, the production firm behind the hit series MasterChef, said: "This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.
"While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process. 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."
A spokesperson for the BBC said: "We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them."