Gregg Wallace has apologised for “any offence caused” for remarks he made on Sunday when he dismissed those who accused him of inappropriate sexual jokes as “middle-class women of a certain age”.
In a video posted on Instagram, the MasterChef presenter said: “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.”
His remarks came after Downing Street condemned Wallace’s initial defence of his behaviour as “misogynistic”, and as pressure mounted on the BBC to stop broadcasting his programmes.
Asked about the Wallace row on Monday, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Clearly the comments we have seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”
Downing Street also revealed that the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, held talks with the BBC bosses in the wake of the row.
The spokesperson said: “The culture secretary spoke with the BBC leadership at the end of last week on this matter and wider workplace culture issues to seek assurances that there are robust processes in place to deal with complaints.
“More broadly, the BBC is conducting an independent review into workplace culture, which must deliver clear and timely recommendations. It’s essential that staff and the wider public have confidence that the BBC takes these issues seriously.”
Asked whether MasterChef should be taken off air, the spokesperson said: “As we said last week, these allegations are obviously deeply concerning. It’s right that a thorough investigation is conducted. Obviously that’s for the BBC and the production company.”
Wallace stepped back from his role on MasterChef last week while allegations of past misconduct – including three of inappropriate touching – are investigated by Banijay, the programme’s production company.
The review will be conducted by the law firm Lewis Silkin, Banijay has confirmed.
Wallace’s lawyers have denied that he engages in sexually harassing behaviour.
In an Instagram video on Sunday, Wallace pointed out he had worked with more than 4,000 contestants on MasterChef. He said: “In 20 years, 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?”
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He added: “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.”
The former Celebrity MasterChef contestants Ulrika Jonsson, Kirstie Allsopp and Emma Kennedy were among those who criticised his response.
A pre-recorded episode of MasterChef: the Professionals presented by Wallace was due to be broadcast on Monday night.
The Labour MP Rupa Huq, who sits on the culture, media and sport committee, urged the BBC to consider pulling the programme. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said such a move would “send a strong message that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable”.
Huq said: “There is an argument for pausing while this investigation takes its course, and maybe not airing it tonight.”
There are also two MasterChef specials lined up for the BBC Christmas schedule, a celebrity Cook-Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza.