Gregg Wallace

Downing Toll road has branded Gregg Wallace’s response to claims about his behavior “misogynistic” – because the pinnacle of a TV workers’ union called experiences of the BBC’s handling of complaints “deeply troubling”.

Wallace has stepped relief from presenting the BBC cooking list after accusations he made sexual comments in the direction of workers and celebrity company on a ramification of programmes over 17 years.

At the weekend, the presenter issued a defiant response to mounting allegations against him, dismissing his accusers as “heart-class ladies folk of a undeniable age” in a chain of videos posted on Instagram.

Tradition secretary Lisa Nandy has held talks with BBC bosses within the wake of the controversy, a spokesperson for the prime minister has talked about – describing Wallace’s comments as “thoroughly scandalous and misogynistic”.

The Bectu union, which represents bigger than 40,000 workers, contract and freelance workers within the media and entertainment industries, says experiences on the strategy by which complaints dangle beforehand been dealt with by the company will make others anxious about speaking out.

In a assertion despatched to Sky News, Bectu’s head Philippa Childs talked about that “misogyny, intimidation, ageism and sexual harassment have to tranquil dangle no situation” in as much as the moment locations of work, but “time and as soon as more we peep that these components proceed to bustle rampant within the ingenious industries – propped up by insufficient reporting mechanisms, a lack of accountability and an trade that permits vulgar vitality dynamics and ‘untouchable’ ability”.

She persevered: “Reports that the BBC beforehand internally investigated complaints about Wallace and concluded that aspects of his behaviour had been unacceptable are deeply troubling – is it any surprise that film and TV freelancers, plenty of them worrying about their subsequent job, contemplate twice about sticking their head above the parapet?

“Unless the trade attracts a line within the sand and collectively takes meaningful circulate, we would possibly per chance well perhaps be within the connected situation subsequent week, in six months, a year’s time. Historic allegations will proceed to surface, alongside revelations that someone knew, but complaints had been inadequately dealt with at the time.”

‘Freelancers dangle little self perception complaints are taken seriously’

Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is amongst 13 other folks that dangle made claims, with Wallace being investigated by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK.

One earlier contestant suggested Sky News the allegations against the 60-year-outmoded are correct the “tip of the iceberg” – claiming he witnessed a “poisonous atmosphere” and used to be so “stricken” he opinion of as quitting the list on his first day. The subject used to be “systemic” and “bigger” than correct the presenter, he talked about.

A BBC source talked about it “would be pass” to mumble the broadcaster has “finished nothing if or when matters were raised… no longer least because it’s far already being broadly reported there had been interventions in each 2017 and 2018 where circulate used to be taken”.

Bectu has called on broadcasters and the bigger trade to accept that inner reporting mechanisms are “insufficient” and encouraged enhance for the newly-established Artistic Industries Honest Requirements Authority (CIISA), which goals to uphold and toughen standards of behaviour.

“Production corporations and broadcasters will cite their possess policies and procedures, but it’s far abundantly certain that freelancers discontinue no longer in actuality feel assured the exhaust of these, and dangle little self perception that complaints are taken seriously, effectively investigated and appropriate circulate taken against perpetrators,” Ms Childs talked about.

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Banijay UK beforehand talked about the complaints had been made to the BBC final week by “people in the case of historic allegations of misconduct whereas working with Gregg Wallace on undoubtedly one of our shows”.

The company talked about that Wallace, who has been a co-presenter and call to mind the liked cooking list since 2005, used to be “dedicated to thoroughly co-working at some point soon of the strategy”.

A BBC spokesperson talked about the company has “sturdy processes in situation” to handle any components raised and is “continually certain that any behaviour which falls below the criteria anticipated by the BBC would possibly per chance well perhaps also no longer be tolerated”.

The spokesperson talked about it’s far also scandalous to mumble further on something else “that would possibly per chance well perhaps also scheme part of Banijay’s ongoing investigation or otherwise impact it”.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s official spokesman has talked about the custom secretary spoke with BBC management final week about Wallace and “wider situation of work custom” components.

“Clearly the comments we dangle viewed from the particular particular person over the weekend had been thoroughly scandalous and misogynistic,” the spokesperson talked about.

“Extra broadly the BBC is conducting an self sustaining overview into situation of work custom which have to instruct certain and effectively timed suggestions. It is crucial that workers and the broader public dangle self perception that the BBC takes these components seriously.”