PA MediaThe BBC ought to contemplate pausing MasterChef whereas Gregg Wallace is investigated, an MP has advised.
Rupa Huq, who can be a member of the Tradition, Media and Sport Committee, stated the continued broadcast of MasterChef might be “triggering” for the ladies concerned.
Talking to BBC Radio 4’s As we speak, she stated: “I believe presumably there may be an argument for pausing whereas this investigation takes its course, and perhaps not airing it tonight.”
Wallace has denied behaviour of a sexually harassing nature, after 13 folks got here ahead final week with allegations of inappropriate feedback.
At the moment, the following episode of MasterChef: The Professionals is scheduled to air at 21:00 GMT on Monday on BBC One.
Will probably be the sixteenth episode of the 21 which have been recorded for the present sequence. The subsequent two episodes are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.
There are additionally greater than 250 episodes of historic programmes that includes Wallace out there to observe on BBC iPlayer, nearly all of that are MasterChef or its spin-offs.
Getty PhotographsOn Sunday, Wallace stated the accusations had come from a “handful of middle-class girls of a sure age”.
His response was criticised by his accusers, one among whom stated the feedback confirmed he “clearly hasn’t learnt his lesson”.
Huq informed As we speak: “I perceive it is scheduled for 9pm right now [Monday], and it is already within the Christmas schedules, nevertheless it appears to be not going away from the information.”
She added the printed of additional episodes of MasterChef “might be massively triggering for the ladies concerned, in actual fact any lady concerned in any sort of comparable incidents”, and stated the BBC ought to contemplate pausing the sequence “out of sensitivity”.
Huq, the sister of TV presenter Konnie, acknowledged that Wallace had stepped again from presenting the present, however famous the pre-recorded episodes are nonetheless scheduled to air.
“To the informal viewer, there’s not going to be any distinction,” she stated. “If it is on TV tonight, it seems to be like he form of received away with it, and I believe the BBC ought to ship a robust sign [about] this form of behaviour.”
She added: “We have to let the investigation do its work, however on the identical time, if he is being dangled on our screens whereas this is happening, I simply suppose in the mean time perhaps pause it.”
Wallace stepped apart final week after a BBC Information investigation revealed allegations of inappropriate sexual feedback and inappropriate behaviour in opposition to him.
The investigation heard from 13 folks spanning a variety of ages, who labored throughout 5 completely different reveals.
Manufacturing firm Banijay UK stated it has launched an investigation, with which Wallace was co-operating, whereas the BBC has stated it would “all the time hear if folks wish to make us conscious of one thing instantly”.
The BBC Information investigation additionally discovered that Wallace was warned by the BBC after a grievance was raised about him in 2018 in regards to the present Unattainable Celebrities, one thing Huq referred to on Monday.
“Apparently this isn’t the primary time, there have been warnings earlier than,” she stated.
“So it does elevate the query that when these BBC investigations have occurred, what was the consequence? Have been they taking the conclusions severely, [or] did they’ve their fingers of their ears?”
