Carol Vorderman has revealed she was once sacked from a TV show after complaining about behaviour.
The former Countdown presenter, 63, has spoken out about the toxic culture in the industry, after several complaints and accusations made against Gregg Wallace, leading to an investigation and him stepping down from MasterChef.
The 60-year-old presenter is accused of making ‘inappropriate sexual jokes’ and lewd comments on set, asking for the phone numbers of female members of production staff, and undressing in front of and standing ‘too close’ to women working on his shows.
Further allegations claim he groped three people in different incidents, that he ‘mimicked sex acts’ and walked around the studio almost ‘completely naked’, with more than 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year-period making complaints, including Ulrika Jonsson and Kirstie Allsopp.
Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.
Carol has now spoken about the industry at large, saying ‘it’s not just Gregg Wallace’.
The I’m A Celebrity star told The Mirror: ‘It’s about keeping people down, particularly women. And it’s not just Gregg Wallace. This kind of behaviour is widespread, and it’s been happening for years.’
She said she faced an incident where she was dropped from a TV show and never invited back after making a complaint.
Carol continued: ‘I’ve made complaints, you may not be surprised to hear, about various people. Well, obviously, I get sacked.
‘But even in the last couple of years – I can’t tell you which show it was – but I complained about someone, and after that I never appeared again. It’s still happening today.’
She added: ‘You get this pattern of people being too scared to speak up. If you’re the first one to make a complaint, you’re branded a troublemaker, and it’s incredibly difficult to get heard.
‘People are scared to lose their jobs, especially when you’re just starting out. If you stick your head above the parapet, you risk everything.’
Following the first of the accusations against him, Wallace shared a statement on social media saying the allegations came from ‘middle-class women of a certain age’.
Stay updated with our latest Gregg Wallace stories here:
After immense backlash, including from the Prime Minister, who blasted the comments as ‘misogynistic’, Wallace apologised, and 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 head space when I posted it.
‘I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege when I posted it.
‘It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway.
‘I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Dame Prue Leith says MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace ‘shouldn’t be sacked’
MORE: Anita Rani takes swipe at Gregg Wallace with powerful slogan T-shirt amid allegations
MORE: Frontrunner to replace Gregg Wallace on MasterChef revealed after long-time judge steps down