Gregg Wallace, the longtime co-host of the BBC’s iconic cooking competition MasterChef, is at the center of a high-profile legal battle with the broadcaster and its subsidiary, BBC Studios Distribution Limited. The case, which has unfolded over the past year, has brought to light complex questions about workplace conduct, data rights, and the handling of neurodiversity in the public eye.
Wallace, who began co-presenting MasterChef in 2005, was dismissed from the show in July 2025 following a months-long investigation into historical allegations of misconduct. According to court documents reported by Deadline, BBC News, and the PA news agency, Wallace is now suing the BBC and BBC Studios for up to £10,000 (approximately $13,000) in damages, alleging “distress and harassment” after his sacking. The legal action also seeks a court order compelling the BBC and BBC Studios to comply fully with his requests for personal data.
The roots of the dispute stretch back to November 2024, when it was first announced that Wallace would step away from his role while the allegations were investigated. The inquiry, conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin and commissioned by production company Banijay UK, substantiated 45 of 83 allegations against Wallace. The majority of these claims related to inappropriate sexual language and humor, with incidents dating as far back as 2005 and continuing through 2018. Other substantiated complaints included a small number of instances involving inappropriate language, three cases of being in a state of undress, and one of unwelcome physical contact.
The report found that "the majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018," with only a single allegation substantiated after that period. Notably, the investigation concluded while Wallace was being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder—a detail that both his legal team and the report itself said should be considered in the context of his neurodiversity. According to Deadline, neurodiversity specialists told Wallace that he is uncertain of social boundaries, which may have played a role in some of the incidents under scrutiny.
In July 2025, the BBC and Banijay UK issued a joint statement declaring that Wallace’s return to MasterChef was “untenable.” The BBC stated, “Wallace’s behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.” The statement continued, “Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour, both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.”
Wallace himself has expressed regret for his actions, though he strongly contests the most serious allegations. In a statement to the PA news agency, he said, “For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. None of the serious allegations against me were upheld. I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching, but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended.” He also apologized for using “inappropriate language” between 2005 and 2018, but denied the more serious allegations of misconduct.
The legal battle now hinges on Wallace’s claim that the BBC and BBC Studios failed to comply with subject access requests (SARs) for his personal data. According to court documents, Wallace submitted these requests on March 6, 2025, seeking information related to “his work, contractual relations and conduct.” Under UK law, organizations are generally required to respond to SARs within one month, though extensions are permitted if the information is complex.
However, as reported by The Mirror and corroborated by BBC News, on August 7, 2025, the BBC emailed Wallace to apologize for the delay, stating they were “taking all reasonable steps” to process the request “in a timely manner as possible going forward.” Yet, as of October 2025, Wallace still had not received a full response. BBC Studios reportedly informed Wallace that portions of his personal data were being withheld on the grounds of “freedom of expression.” His barrister, Lawrence Power of Whitestone Chambers, argued in court that the organization had “wrongly redacted” information and “unlawfully failed to supply all of the claimant’s personal data.”
Power stated, “By reason of the defendants failing to fully comply with the SARs 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.” Wallace’s lawsuit seeks damages for “distress, harassment and loss of amenity not exceeding £10,000,” as well as damages under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and interest. He is also seeking a court order compelling the BBC and BBC Studios to comply with the subject access requests.
Both the BBC and BBC Studios have now filed a defense to Wallace’s claim, according to the PA news agency. As of October 11, 2025, the BBC had declined to comment further on the ongoing legal proceedings, maintaining a stance of silence while the matter is before the courts.
The case has sparked broader debate in the media and legal circles about the responsibilities of public broadcasters in handling allegations of workplace misconduct, especially when neurodiversity is a factor. Wallace’s supporters have argued that the broadcaster should have done more to accommodate his diagnosis and to address workplace culture proactively. Critics, meanwhile, point to the number and nature of the substantiated allegations as evidence that decisive action was necessary to uphold professional standards and safeguard staff.
Wallace’s legal team, led by Lawrence Power, has emphasized the distress and reputational damage caused by what they describe as a “trial by media.” The former fruit and vegetable seller turned TV personality has said, “I never set out to harm or humiliate.” The BBC, for its part, has acknowledged “missed opportunities” in addressing Wallace’s behavior sooner, but insists that the ultimate decision to end his tenure was based on clear breaches of its values.
As the case moves forward, it’s likely to test not just the limits of data protection law and employer responsibility, but also the ways in which organizations respond to the complexities of neurodiversity and public scrutiny. With both sides digging in, the outcome could set important precedents for how similar cases are handled in the future—and for how public figures navigate the fallout from allegations in the age of social media and 24-hour news cycles.
For now, the saga of Gregg Wallace and the BBC remains unresolved, its final act yet to be played out in the courts, but its impact already reverberating through the corridors of British broadcasting and beyond.
