Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has initiated legal proceedings against the BBC, pursuing compensation of up to £10,000 through a data protection claim.
The 60-year-old television personality launched the action following his dismissal from the cooking programme in July.
Court documents reveal that Mr Wallace’s barrister, Lawrence Power, has cited “distress and harassment” as grounds for the damages claim.
The legal action targets both the BBC and its subsidiary, BBC Studios Distribution Limited.
Gregg Wallace has started legal proceedings against the BBC
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Mr Wallace’s removal from MasterChef came after an independent investigation commissioned by production company Banijay.
The inquiry, conducted by an external law firm, examined 83 separate allegations concerning his conduct during his two-decade tenure on the programme.
The presenter is also seeking a court order compelling both organisations to comply with his data access requests.
The investigation’s findings proved damaging for Mr Wallace, with 45 of the 83 allegations against him being upheld.
The report concluded that Mr Wallace had engaged in inappropriate sexual remarks and culturally insensitive comments throughout his time on the programme.
Additional findings revealed that he had undressed in front of colleagues on multiple occasions.
The investigation also substantiated one incident involving unwelcome physical contact with another person.
Mr Wallace and his legal representatives have maintained their position that the allegations are unfounded. They stated that “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
Despite these denials, Mr Wallace did issue an apology regarding the physical contact incident.
He expressed being “deeply sorry for any distress caused” and insisted “it was never intended”, attributing the situation to what he called a “difference in perception”.
Mr Wallace submitted formal data access requests to both the BBC and BBC Studios Distribution in March, when uncertainty surrounded his position on the programme.
The requests sought personal information relating to his employment, contractual arrangements and behaviour spanning his 21-year association with MasterChef.
Gregg Wallace is suing the BBC for ‘distress and harrassment’
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ITVAccording to court filings, the BBC categorised his request as “complex” and indicated they required an additional two months beyond the standard one-month processing period. BBC Studios pledged to “endeavour to respond” within the typical timeframe.
Mr Wallace’s legal team alleges he received no response from the BBC.
BBC Studios reportedly informed him that portions of his personal data were being withheld, citing “freedom of expression” as justification.
The presenter’s barrister claims BBC Studios improperly redacted information about individuals who had access to Wallace’s personal data during its handling and processing.
Mr Wallace’s former co-host John Torode faced separate allegations during the review process. The investigation claimed Mr Torode had used a racial slur, though he stated he had no recollection of such an incident.
Both presenters were removed from their positions on MasterChef. However, the BBC proceeded to broadcast the most recent series that had already been recorded with both men.
Mr Wallace’s barrister stated in court documents that the BBC emailed his client on August 7, apologising for delays and promising they were “taking all reasonable steps” to process his request promptly. Despite these assurances, Wallace maintains he has yet to receive the requested information.
The BBC declined to comment when approached by GB News.