Gregg Wallace has been banned from working at the BBC after he was sacked from MasterChef as a result of an inquiry into alleged misconduct.
The Corporation ruled that the presenter was not safe to have in the workplace amid claims of inappropriate behaviour, including groping. He has vehemently denied the claims.
In a letter of dismissal after two decades of service, the BBC told Wallace it did not “have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour”.
Wallace, 60, was forced to step down from MasterChef in November following a string of allegations made against him.
More than 50 people who encountered the broadcaster across a range of shows and settings, including a former police officer, have approached the BBC with claims against Wallace.
A report into his alleged gross misconduct, commissioned by production company Banijay and conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, is yet to be published.
On Tuesday, Wallace told his 223,000 Instagram followers he had been cleared by that report of "the most serious and sensational allegations" made against him.
However, the former greengrocer acknowledged "some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate”.
His dismissal letter, seen by The Daily Telegraph, said the bosses had taken into account that “you were a presenter on a flagship show” and noted “the impact that your comments had on the BBC’s reputation”.
The author, whose identity is unknown, states: “I have also taken into account whether your behaviour could be improved with training and/or coaching. However, having reviewed the 2025 findings, I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the working environment, without understanding the boundaries of what is appropriate.
“I also have to consider the fact that various people in the BBC have spoken to you about your behaviour over the course of your career, and that you also already received training/coaching in 2019.”
I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change
The letter added: “I have further taken into account the 2025 Findings as they relate to your health and recent autism diagnosis (as you have publicly stated).
“I have noted that you do not consider certain environments to now be ‘safe’ for you. In addition to the duty of care towards you, the BBC equally to take into account the safety and duty of care owed towards contributors, members of the public and colleagues on production teams that you may engage with and the appropriate use of licence fee payers’ money in establishing a safe working environment for all.
“The 2025 Findings reflect that you acknowledge some of your comments have offended or upset people, but it is clear that you struggle to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, as well as lacking awareness of why your behaviour impacts others.
“I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change to ensure there is a sufficiently safe and respectful environment for others working with you in the types of programmes the BBC has engaged you to present. Such productions are not heavily scripted programmes and involve sound and consistent levels of judgment in relation to interactions with others which cannot constantly be monitored or supervised.”
Wallace was recently diagnosed with autism and accused the BBC of failing “to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years”.
Friends of Wallace said he is preparing to sue the Corporation for discrimination, with a source saying: “The BBC is effectively saying it can’t cope with a disabled person.
“Wrap that in as many safeguarding policies as you like, it still sounds a lot like discrimination. This is why he has been sacked.”
It has since been claimed that Wallace has “an inability to wear underwear because of his autistic hypersensitivity to labels and tight clothing”.
But Emily Banks, founder of neurodiversity training body Enna, told BBC News: “To be clear: being autistic is never an excuse for misconduct. It doesn’t absolve anyone of responsibility, and it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t tell the difference between right and wrong.”
Numerous celebrities have publicly criticised Wallace, including former Newsnight anchor Kirsty Wark, radio presenter Aasmah Mir and Location, Location, Location host Kirstie Allsopp.
A report published in April into the BBC found that a small number of its stars and managers "behave unacceptably" at work and that bosses often failed to tackle them.
In response, the Corporation said it would introduce reforms, with chairman Samir Shah saying he would draw "a line in the sand".
A spokesman for Wallace said: "Gregg continues to co-operate fully with the ongoing Banijay UK review and as previously stated, denies engaging in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature."
