BBC bosses urged to axe MasterChef Christmas specials amid Gregg Wallace misconduct allegations
WATCH HERE: Bev Turner questions why the taxpayer is paying the BBC to investigate Gregg Wallace
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The BBC has defied mounting pressure to remove MasterChef from its schedule, airing the semi-final of The Professionals on Monday night despite serious misconduct allegations against presenter Gregg Wallace.
The decision to broadcast the pre-recorded episode came amid growing backlash from politicians and the public, following Wallace's step back from the show last Thursday.
The programme, which aired at 9pm on BBC1, was the 16th of 21 episodes recorded for the current series.
The broadcaster is also reportedly proceeding with plans to air two more episodes this week, as well as promoting an upcoming Christmas special featuring the former presenter.
The move has sparked controversy as Wallace faces allegations of inappropriate behaviour from 13 people across five shows over a 17-year period.
Labour MP Rupa Huq, a member of Parliament's culture, media and sport committee, urged the BBC to pause broadcasting MasterChef while investigations continue.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Huq warned that airing the shows "could be massively triggering for the women involved, in fact any woman involved in any type of similar incidents".
She expressed concern about the message being sent to viewers, stating: "To the casual viewer, there's not going to be any difference. If it's on TV tonight, it looks like he sort of got away with it".
The MP called for the BBC to "send a strong signal" about such behaviour, adding: "We need to let the investigation do its work, but at the same time, if he's being dangled on our screens while this is going on, I just think at the moment maybe pause it".
Wallace sparked further controversy with an Instagram post on Sunday, dismissing his accusers as "a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef".
The presenter claimed that in his 20-year career, he had worked with over 4,000 contestants, receiving only 13 complaints during that time.
Downing Street issued a strong rebuke to Wallace's defence, with the Prime Minister's official spokesperson stating: "Clearly the comments we have seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic".
The response drew criticism from several public figures, including Ulrika Jonsson, who competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017 and said she was "seething".
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp also condemned Wallace's response as "unacceptable", sharing her own experience of his inappropriate behaviour during a pilot filming.
Leading PR expert Mark Borkowski suggested Wallace was "only listening to his own ego", describing the Instagram video as likely career-ending.
The allegations against Wallace include claims of making inappropriate sexual jokes, asking for female staff members' phone numbers, and undressing in front of colleagues.
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Wallace's lawyers maintain that "it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature".
Production company Banijay UK has appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to conduct an external investigation into Wallace's alleged behaviour.
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