Two ladies have claimed Gregg Wallace inappropriately touched them – as but extra allegations floor in opposition to the MasterChef presenter.

It comes because the BBC mentioned it was pulling the MasterChef Christmas specials as a result of “present circumstances”.

Wallace, 60, now faces claims from greater than a dozen individuals throughout a variety of exhibits over a 17-year interval.

He has briefly stepped down from the cooking present whereas the complaints are externally reviewed.

Wallace’s attorneys say “it’s fully false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.

On Tuesday, the BBC reported claims Wallace touched and “groped” a girl’s backside, whereas one other alleged he laughed after touching her backside “along with his waist and penis” when brushing previous her.

A 3rd girl mentioned Wallace’s penis was partially uncovered in his dressing room in what she felt was a “energy play”.

The Guardian additionally reported a grievance that Wallace had requested an indication language interpreter to translate “large boobs” and “attractive bum” in entrance of the viewers on the BBC Good Meals Present.

Sky Information has contacted the BBC and Wallace’s representatives for touch upon the most recent claims.

Celeb MasterChef Prepare dinner Off and a MasterChef Strictly Festive Extravaganza had beforehand been listed as a part of the BBC’s Christmas schedule.

Nevertheless, a spokesperson mentioned they’d not now be proven.

“As we’ve got mentioned, MasterChef is a tremendous competitors which is life-changing for the cooks collaborating and the present sequence of MasterChef: The Professionals is constant as deliberate,” the BBC spokesperson mentioned.

“The movie star Christmas specials are clearly a unique sort of present and within the present circumstances we’ve got determined to not broadcast them.”

Amongst these set to look have been actress Amy Walsh, comic Shazia Mirza, actuality star Luca Bish, and The Wished singer Max George.

The Strictly particular was to incorporate dancers Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.

Nevertheless, the most recent sequence of MasterChef: The Professionals remains to be being proven.

An rising variety of individuals have accused Wallace of inappropriate sexual feedback in latest days, together with a former contestant who informed Sky Information one comment left her crying within the bathrooms.

Jackie Kearney mentioned she had been “troubled” by Wallace’s “family favorite standing” as she felt he was “a little bit of a sleaze behind closed doorways”.

One other former contestant informed Sky Information the allegations are simply the “tip of the iceberg” with regards to MasterChef – claiming he witnessed a “poisonous surroundings” on set and the issue was “bigger” than simply the presenter.

On Sunday, Wallace responded with a social media video dismissing his accusers as “middle-class ladies of a sure age”.

The comment prompted an enormous backlash, with even Downing Avenue commenting.

He apologised in one other clip on Monday.

“I wasn’t in a great head area after I posted it, I have been beneath an enormous quantity of stress, lots of emotion, I felt very alone, beneath siege yesterday after I posted it,” the presenter mentioned.

“It is apparent to me I must take a while out now whereas this investigation is beneath method. I hope you perceive and I do hope you settle for this apology.”

Learn extra:
What are the allegations – and what has Wallace mentioned?
‘Center-aged ladies’: An epic failure in disaster administration

What have the BBC and producers mentioned?

Banijay UK has appointed regulation agency Lewis Silkin to guide the investigation.

A spokesperson mentioned the corporate takes complaints “extremely significantly” however is not going to touch upon particular person allegations whereas the exterior investigation is ongoing.

“It is very important notice that MasterChef welfare processes are recurrently tailored and strengthened and there are clear protocols to help each crew and contributors,” the Banijay spokesperson mentioned.

“These embrace a number of methods of reporting points, together with anonymously.”

In response to stories a number of complaints had been raised with the BBC, a supply for the company mentioned it could not touch upon people or any inner HR processes, however that it could be “incorrect to report the BBC has finished nothing if or when issues have been raised with us – not least as a result of it’s already being broadly reported there have been interventions in each 2017 and 2018 the place motion was taken”.

Final week, a BBC spokesperson mentioned any points raised are taken significantly and there are “strong processes in place” to take care of them.

“We’re all the time clear that any behaviour which falls beneath the requirements anticipated by the BBC is not going to be tolerated,” they mentioned.