TV presenter Gregg Wallace has apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour came from "a handful of middle-class women of a certain age", adding he will now "take some time out".
The MasterChef presenter, who faces various allegations including making "inappropriate sexual jokes", posted a video on his Instagram stories on Monday to issue an apology.
He 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 headspace when I posted it, I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it.
"It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out, now while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology."
The 60-year-old faces allegations from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period, as reported by BBC News on Thursday, with many others sharing their experiences in recent days.
Wallace's lawyers say "it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature".
Last Thursday, it was announced that Wallace is to step away from the hit BBC cooking show while historical misconduct complaints are externally reviewed by the producer Banijay UK.
Addressing the accusations in a post on Instagram on Sunday, Wallace said: "I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isn't right."
Wallace’s statement sparked a backlash, with former Celebrity MasterChef contestants Ulrika Jonsson, Kirstie Allsopp and Emma Kennedy among those who criticised his response.
Jonsson, who claimed Wallace had been forced to apologise for one comment, told The Telegraph: "When he made reference to women of a certain age I was just seething… I was just absolutely wild."
Allsopp, who alleged Wallace once made a comment to her about his sex life which left her "so embarrassed" she thought she "might cry", said she was angered by the video.
"That is unacceptable. Because he is essentially saying this is a class issue and middle-class women don't understand the type of things he says because he’s working-class. Well I’m sorry, but he’s doing an incredible disservice to men," she told BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend.
"What’s he saying? That working-class men do this kind of thing, embarrass their wives and girlfriends and sisters and mothers? That’s unacceptable, of course, that’s not the case."
In response to reports that multiple complaints had been raised with the BBC, a source for the corporation said it would not comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, but that it would be "wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us – not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken".
Philippa Childs, head of media and entertainment union Bectu, told Sky News that "misogyny, intimidation, ageism and sexual harassment should have no place" in workplaces but "time and again we see that these issues continue to run rampant in the creative industries – propped up by inadequate reporting mechanisms, a lack of accountability and an industry that enables extreme power dynamics and 'untouchable’ talent".
She continued: "Reports that the BBC previously internally investigated complaints about Wallace and concluded that aspects of his behaviour were unacceptable are deeply troubling – is it any wonder that film and TV freelancers, many of them worrying about their next job, think twice about sticking their head above the parapet?"
Allegations were also raised by staff members about Wallace’s behaviour on Channel 5’s Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends to BBC News, with producer Rumpus Media saying it would be investigating allegations of "inappropriate behaviour".
Production company Banijay UK confirmed it has appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead an investigation into Wallace’s alleged behaviour.
Source: Press Association
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