Gregg Wallace, the once-familiar face of MasterChef, is now at the center of a high-profile legal battle with the BBC, the broadcaster he served for two decades. On October 10, 2025, Wallace filed a lawsuit in the High Court against the BBC and its commercial arm, BBC Studios Distribution Limited, seeking up to £10,000 in damages for what he describes as "distress and harassment." The case, which has quickly captured the attention of the British media landscape, follows Wallace’s dramatic sacking from MasterChef this past July amid a misconduct scandal that also saw the dismissal of his longtime co-host, John Torode.
According to court documents reviewed by BBC News and Sky News, Wallace’s claim centers on the BBC’s alleged failure to comply with data protection laws after he made formal subject access requests (SARs) in March 2025. Wallace, 60, requested all personal data relating to his "work, contractual relations, and conduct"—records that span his entire 21-year tenure with the broadcaster. Under UK law, such requests must typically be fulfilled within a month, although extensions are permitted if the request is deemed complex. In this case, the BBC acknowledged the complexity and sought more time, but by October, Wallace claimed he still hadn’t received all the information he was entitled to.
Wallace’s barrister, Lawrence Power, argued in the filings that the BBC and BBC Studios had “acted in breach of their statutory duty” by failing to fully comply with the SARs. Power stated that the BBC apologized for the delay in August, writing that they were "taking all reasonable steps" to process the request as quickly as possible. Yet, as of the date of the lawsuit, Wallace insisted he had not received the full data. BBC Studios, for its part, reportedly withheld portions of the data on the grounds of "freedom of expression," a justification Wallace’s legal team contends was applied unlawfully and led to improper redactions.
“By reason of the defendants failing to fully comply with the [subject access request] made by the claimant for his own personal data, the defendants acted in breach of their statutory duty and in doing so caused distress and harassment to the claimant,” Power wrote, as quoted by Sky News. The damages Wallace seeks are for "distress, harassment and loss of amenity not exceeding £10,000," as well as interest. He is also asking the court to order the BBC and BBC Studios to release the requested data in full.
The legal wrangling comes against the backdrop of Wallace’s abrupt and highly publicized exit from MasterChef. In July 2025, both Wallace and Torode were sacked from the long-running cooking competition after an independent law firm, commissioned by the show’s production company Banijay UK, investigated a slew of allegations regarding their conduct. The final report, released this summer, substantiated 45 of 83 allegations against Wallace, most relating to inappropriate sexual language and humour, but also including unwelcome physical contact and three incidents where he was reportedly in a state of undress on set. The report also found that many of the upheld complaints involved culturally insensitive or racist comments. Wallace, in a statement to the PA news agency, said, “none of the serious allegations against me were upheld,” but acknowledged, “I am deeply sorry for any distress I have caused and never set out to harm or humiliate.”
Torode, meanwhile, was also dropped from the show after a separate allegation that he used a severely offensive racist term was substantiated. Torode has said he has “no recollection” of the incident. Despite both men being fired, the BBC elected to air the most recent series of MasterChef—filmed before their dismissals—this summer, according to Sky News.
The BBC has been tight-lipped about the ongoing legal proceedings. A spokesperson told Sky News and BBC News that the broadcaster would not comment on matters before the courts. Legal representatives for Wallace have also declined to make any further public statements while the case is active. The BBC and BBC Studios have reportedly filed a defence to Wallace’s claim, though details have not yet been made public.
The data dispute is just the latest chapter in a saga that has rocked one of Britain’s most beloved television franchises. Wallace’s legal filings allege that the BBC’s handling of his personal data compounded the distress and public scrutiny he faced following his removal from the show. The case also highlights the increasing importance of data rights and privacy in the modern workplace, particularly when high-profile employees are involved. UK data protection laws give individuals the right to access personal information held about them, and organizations can only withhold data in limited circumstances—such as when it would infringe on freedom of expression or the rights of others. Wallace’s lawyers contend that these exceptions were misapplied in his case.
The fallout from the scandal has prompted swift changes at MasterChef. Following the departure of Wallace and Torode, the BBC announced that food critic Grace Dent and chef Anna Haugh would take over as the new hosts. The network’s chief, in comments reported by BBC News, remarked, “No one is irreplaceable,” underscoring the corporation’s determination to move forward after a turbulent year. The BBC also admitted, “we accept more could and should have been done sooner,” in reference to its handling of the allegations against Wallace.
Wallace, who was diagnosed with autism prior to his dismissal, suggested that his condition may have influenced some of his conduct. In his apology, he stated, “I never set out to harm or humiliate,” and expressed regret for any distress caused. In the same investigation, the law firm’s report noted that Wallace had apologized after the findings were released, but insisted that the majority of the upheld claims related to inappropriate language and humour, rather than more serious allegations.
The legal case is now set to test not only the BBC’s internal processes for handling sensitive data but also the broader obligations of major employers under UK data protection law. For Wallace, the outcome could provide a measure of vindication—or at least closure—after a dramatic end to his two-decade run on one of the UK’s most-watched shows. For the BBC, the lawsuit is a reminder of the legal and reputational risks that can arise when high-profile scandals intersect with evolving data rights and workplace standards.
With new hosts at the helm and a legal battle looming, MasterChef is entering a new era—one shaped as much by what happens off-screen as by the culinary drama that unfolds in front of the cameras.
