MasterChef: The Professionals viewers slam ‘ill timed’ remark from Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti amid ongoing sexual misconduct allegations concerning Gregg Wallace.
The MasterChef judge and chef, 60, announced he was stepping back from presenting the show after nearly 20 years last week while an investigation into his alleged misconduct is carried out.
He was accused by 13 people of ‘wrong’ and inappropriate ‘sexualised’ behaviour during filming and allegedly walking naked on to a set with only a sock on his penis, while three different women working in production have also accused him of groping them on set.
And on Thursday’s episode, while Gregg was absent from part of the episode, his fellow judges Marcus and Monica referenced him, with fans wondering why the remark was left in.
When trying to contestants dishes, Marcus finished his portion, saying: ‘I’ve eaten all of it’
To which Monica replied: ‘You’ve done a Gregg,’ with Marcus repeating: ‘I’ve done a Gregg’
MasterChef: The Professionals viewers slam ‘ill timed’ remark from Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti amid ongoing sexual misconduct allegations concerning Gregg Wallace
And on Thursday’s episode, while Gregg was absent from part of the episode, his fellow judges Marcus and Monica referenced him, with fans wondering why the remark was left in
BBC viewers were quick to point out the ‘unfortunate line’, with one penning on X: ‘Not sure Marcus or Monica will be using the phrase “I’ve done a Gregg” again…’;
‘That’s an unfortunate MasterChef line on demolishing an entire plate of food’
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
The BBC recently confirmed it will continue airing Masterchef: The Professionals, despite growing calls to pull the broadcast following the Gregg Wallace scandal .
Executives at the corporation held crisis meetings as the claims about Wallace threatened to undermine its Christmas schedule, which includes two MasterChef specials.
The BBC have decided to go ahead and broadcast the rest of Masterchef: The Professionals, which will conclude on December 12, and the two Christmas editions, while they await the conclusion of the investigation into Wallace by production company Banijay.
It is understood that the BBC and Banijay have been scouring the forthcoming episodes of MasterChef that have yet to air for any sexually inappropriate comments by Wallace.
With four episodes yet to air, Masterchef: The Professionals is a key part of the BBC’s festive schedule. Masterchef itself also supports a lucrative merchandising operation, with knives and cookware featured in the series sold as Christmas gifts.
It comes after MailOnline reveled Gregg may be completely erased from the new series of MasterChef so it can be aired.
When trying to contestants dishes, Marcus finished his portion, saying: ‘I’ve eaten all of it’. To which Monica replied: ‘You’ve done a Gregg,’ with Marcus repeating: ‘I’ve done a Gregg’
BBC viewers were quick to point out the ‘unfortunate line’, with one penning on X: ‘Not sure Marcus or Monica will be using the phrase “I’ve done a Gregg” again…’
Wallace had already filmed the forthcoming series for amateur chefs last month with his co-presenter John Torode , 59. But the 60-year-old is now set to be wiped from the tapes before it is screened next year.
Wallace stood down from the show last week after a flurry of allegations of sexually inappropriate comments on set, which has sparked fears that the next series would have to be completely ditched.
Despite the BBC insisting that the future of MasterChef will not be decided until the outcome of the investigation, a production insider told the Mail Online that the series is ‘salvageable’ as the option to airbrush Wallace entirely out of the episodes is being carefully considered.
This would mean that the series – which will have cost production company Banijay a significant sum to make – would not have to be binned.
The source said that Torode and Wallace’s critiques, where they give feedback on the contestants’ food, were filmed separately.
They said: ‘John and Gregg were always shot with separate cameras. Any two shots, or wide shots containing the pair can be cut. Removing Gregg entirely is a difficult task, but not an impossible one.’
Last Friday, Australian chef Torode was flown overseas to continue filming the show, with Irish chef Anna Haugh stepping in to replace Wallace.
Wallace stood down from the show last week after a flurry of allegations of sexually inappropriate comments on set, which has sparked fears that the next series would have to be completely ditched
Actress Emma Kennedy (pictured), who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2012, has alleged that she witnessed Wallace ‘grope’ a camera assistant during a photo shoot that same year
Filming on the forthcoming series was completed on Tuesday afternoon and had been due to be broadcast in Spring 2025.
It is now unclear when the BBC will air the recently recorded episodes.
Sources on set said ‘it couldn’t have gone better’, with one saying: ‘Considering the circumstances it has been seamless.’
‘We had the popular Anna Haugh, who has appeared on the show before, step in and give the contestants feedback alongside John.
‘The production team was committed to keeping the atmosphere on set as calm as possible for our amateur finalists.’
It would not be an unprecedented move for a BBC programme to erase its stars from the screen.
In 2023 RuPaul’s Drag Race, a reality TV contest for drag queens, one contestant was airbrushed out after they were accused of inappropriate behaviour before the show aired.
While TV presenter Jay Blades, who was charged last month with the physical and emotional abuse of his wife, has not appeared in pre-recorded episodes of The Repair Shop which have broadcast since.
Last week Wallace stood down from Masterchef, after a BBC News investigation revealed allegations of the presenter’s sexually inappropriate behaviour on television sets over a 17-year period.
Co-host of Masterchef The Professionals Monica Galetti (right) appeared to throw her support behind the beleaguered chef last week
BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter ‘talking openly about his sex life among others
The former greengrocer has denied behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. But he is now subject to an external investigation by top London law firm Lewis Silkin, instructed by MasterChef production company Banijay.
Torode broke his silence on Wednesday, but declined to defend his television colleague of 19 years, and said he fully supports the probe into the claims of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour and language.
He said it had been ‘hard’ to keep working after hearing of the allegations.
On Thursday night, the BBC broadcast the semi-finals of MasterChef: The Professional, featuring Wallace. But it has scrapped the scheduled broadcast of two Christmas specials of the cookery show.