Former BBC producer John Mair appeared on GB News. (Image: GB News)
Former BBC producer John Mair appeared on Friday morning’s Breakfast show to discuss stepping away from while historical misconduct complaints are externally reviewed.
The ex- current affairs producer was asked by hosts Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello whether this would be “the end of Gregg’s TV career”. John replied: “I would have thought so. He won’t appear on screen again. This is his Frank Bough moment, isn’t it?”
was one of the ‘s biggest presenters, hosting Breakfast and Sports, before he was sacked in 1988 following .
John went on to say that he “feels sorry for Gregg”, adding: “There is a movement now that anybody who talks out of turn gets pulled off air.”
He said: “The has been very unlucky; they have lost four presenters involuntarily in the last two months and two of them voluntarily. But, is the being over cautious and as soon as there is a whiff of smoke, the retreats and says, ‘take them off air’.
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Gregg Wallace has stepped away from MasterChef amid a probe into historical misconduct complaints. (Image: Getty)
“Presenters have to have a certain personality, a certain ego. You don’t want bland presenters, do you? So sometimes their ego gets the better of them.”
Gregg, 60, faces allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period, as reported by News which said it sent a letter to the TV star’s representatives earlier this week.
Among the News complainants is former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, who alleged he told jokes of a “sexualised nature” when she was competing on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
John said: “This story has got a lot of oxygen from Kirsty Wark who is well-respected and did a .
“So, there is obviously a lot of truth to it. But if you hire a barrow boy, what do you expect? Do you expect a barrow boy not to be a barrow boy?”
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Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have complained about Gregg. (Image: Getty)
Kirsty Wark told the that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a “sexualised nature” in front of contestants and crew and that she felt they were “really, really in the wrong place”.
News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter “talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’, and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans”.
The TV star’s lawyers say “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, News reported.
in an post on Thursday evening, telling his followers: “I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support.
“It’s good of you, thank you very much.”
Earlier on Thursday, it was announced that Wallace is “committed to fully co-operating” with an external review by MasterChef’s production company, Banijay UK.
A statement said: “This week the received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.
“Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.
“While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
“Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
The statement added: “If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakupbanijayuk.com in confidence.”
A spokesman said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”
Wallace is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will transmit as planned, with the next episode due to air on Thursday, the PA news agency understands.