MasterChef fans question if ‘Gregg Wallace has been edited out’ of BBC episode-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

MasterChef viewers think Gregg Wallace has been edited out of a recent episode (Picture: BBC)

MasterChef viewers have been left questioning if Gregg Wallace has been edited out of a recent BBC episode, amid an investigation into his behaviour.

The presenter, 60, has stepped back from the programme following several allegations made against him, including from the likes of Ulrika Jonsson and Kirsty Wark.

Wallace has been 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, and that he sexually harassed his ghost-writer with ‘thigh rubs’.

Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.

Wallace has stepped back from presenting MasterChef amid an investigation (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

In light of the investigation, the BBC shelved the MasterChef Christmas specials which were due to air this year, however, pre-recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals have been airing on weeknights at 8pm.

Wallace appears as a judge in them alongside Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing, however, fans are now claiming he appears to be featuring less in them.

In the episode that aired on Monday night, which was the beginning of finals weeks, Wallace did not appear in the opening, despite Monica and Marcus both remarking on what they were looking for from the final four.

He also featured little in the main part of the programme during the banquet, when the finalists were serving dishes to celebrity chefs including the likes of Tom Kerridge.

When it came to the judgement, Wallace stood beside Monica and Marcus in the kitchen, telling the contestants: ‘Great to see you back here, I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us now, you are a plate away from the final three.’

MasterChef: The Professionals has been airing on BBC in recent weeks, and continues tonight (Picture: BBC/Shine TV)

Viewers think Wallace has been edited out of episodes, with @tynemouth writing on X: ‘Great editing for the banquet. Wallace completely sidelined. Well done.’

@Tilsit added: ‘They seem to have done a reasonable job of airbrushing Gregg Wallace out of the Chef’s Table bit of Masterchef TP. Sadly, he’s back now but it is the correct decision not to cancel this show as it’s a showcase for the chefs.’

@gorbalsgoebbels shared: ‘Watching Masterchef The Professionals and Gregg Wallace has been edited out of the show so far.

‘They definitely reduced his presence last week but more time and plenty of extra footage they can use.

‘Will he still appear at the end though for the firing?’

‘They really have erased Greg Wallace from #Masterchef in tonight’s episode The food sounds delicious tonight,’ @ElaineAdu_Poku said.

‘Wallace watch on Masterchef professionals. No sign yet. Been edited out so far,’ @KPBlackTaxi added.

However, Metro understands that no recorded episodes have been edited.

Fans think Wallace features less in the most recent episode (Picture: BBC)

This comes after it was announced the MasterChef festive specials would not air this year.

Addressing the cancelled episodes, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.

‘The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.’

The Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off would have seen celebrities compete for the Golden Whisk Trophy, with the programme hosted by Wallace and John Torode.

The cast included comedian Shazia Mirza, Love Island star Luca Bish, The Wanted singer Max George and Emmerdale star Amy Walsh.

The second festive episode was themed around Strictly Come Dancing, with professional dancers Amy Dowden, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu and Gorka Márquez due to take part, with Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse billed as a guest star.

The Christmas special will not air this year (Picture: BBC/Shine TV)

It is unclear if the BBC will broadcast the next season of the main series, which recently finished filming and was due to air in Spring 2025.

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’.

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.’

His co-star John Torode has meanwhile shared his own statement, saying he would not comment further on the allegations while the investigation continues.

He wrote on Instagram: ‘Since last Friday I have been away filming MasterChef overseas. I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it.

‘During the last few days, I’ve been trying to make the best cookery programme, so being busy making the show and caring for our contestants has allowed me little time to think about anything else, but that has been hard.

‘The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear, and I have found the recent press reports truly upsetting.’

He added: ‘But as I hope everyone appreciates there is an investigation underway, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.’

Metro has approached reps for Banijay UK, the BBC and Gregg Wallace for comment.

MasterChef: The Professionals is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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