Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on Gregg Wallace denying accusations of inappropriate conduct

Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace is denying accusations he made sexual comments toward staff and celebrity guests.

The 60-year-old's stepped back from presenting the TV show as an investigation begins.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says more complaints have emerged since his departure - and there's been outrage over the BBC's response to this. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
UK correspondent given great is with us this evening, Hi Gevin,
hither Jack. So Georgia has experienced the fourth night of
huge street demonstrations. What has triggered all of.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Us Basically, they held an election and to the surprise
of many, the country, which is a former Russian republic,
has kind of turned its back on joining the European
Union and once really closer links to Russia. Now many
of the opposition party who say this election was a
shock result, say the election was rigged and they are

(00:35):
demanding that the government think again. It has also led
to a string of very very senior resignations of people
within the country. Indeed, the latest reports suggest George's ambassador
to the US has now stood down, saying he'd come
under considerable pressure. But it's not just those high profile
figures as well. Teachers other workers all say that they

(00:57):
are going to resign or refusing to work, and it
really has led a very very frustrating period for the country.
Now three thousand teachers signing letters condemning the decision to
put the EU accession on hold so joining the European Union.
The pro Western president who's due to step down in

(01:18):
just four weeks time. She says she's going to refuse
to step down until a new vote has been held.
So at the moment, Georgia, with its population a three
point seven million and a bridge as it were, between
Eastern Europe and Russia, very much, very much in a
deepening political and constitutional crisis, with tens of thousands of

(01:41):
people out on the freezing streets again last night met
with the water, canon, tear gas and all sorts of
really pretty violent and harsh reaction from the police. Many
fear this country is really looking into the abyss regards
whether or not other election will be held.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yea, how have Greg Wallace's alleged victims reacted to his response?

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, pretty furious of course. Greg Wallace, big television star
here for the BBC hosted Master Chef for over twenty
years and suspended for alleged inappropriate sexual comments and inappropriate behavior.
He then went on to social media and said this
is these complaints have come from a handful of middle

(02:29):
class women of a certain age. Well, many of his
victims now stepping forward and saying well, look, this just
shows that he hasn't learned his lesson. He seems to
be saying he's the victim of classism, and they're saying
this has got nothing to do with class it's got
something to do with your behavior. And they alleged that
he should really in this period where he stepped aside,

(02:50):
have a think about his behavior and what he reckons
about it. So this does look like it's going to
be a very very difficult period for the program, and
questions are for the BBC about how they have handled
earlier complaints about the sixty year old, why he wasn't
looked at earlier, how he was still presenting the program,

(03:11):
and what they knew when basically so at the moment,
as I said, he's suspended. These are all allegations. But
since he's made his comments now a growing number of
younger women on the program who hadn't made complaints at
the time are it is reported coming forward Jack now
to complaint as well.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
And given to Belgium, we're Belgium's six workers get maternity
leaven pensions under a new World first law.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yes, quite extraordinarly is so real leaping in I suppose
sort of modern day thinking, but sex workers will be
entitled to official employment contracts, the health insurance pensions maternity
leave and sick date. In other words, being a prostitute
will be the same, or being a sex worker will

(04:00):
be treated like any other job. And there are tens
of millions of sex workers worldwide, but it's decriminalized in
Belgium just a couple of years ago, legal in several
countries now, including Germany, Greece, the Netherlands. But getting that
sort of employment rights and getting contracts out there for
sex workers that is a global first. Many are saying

(04:22):
this is great, a great tactic from Belgium to change
the law and saying, you know this will what got
prompted because the lack of state support during the COVID pandemic.
But others are saying, are we really really in a
state where we are acknowledging and doing more than acknowledging
sex workers by giving them these rights.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
Yeah, that's fascinating, isn't it. Hey, thank you very much
for your time given. We appreciate it. Gaven Gray, UK correspondent.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
For more from Hither Duplessy Alan Drive, listen live to
news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.