BBC was warned about Gregg Wallace’s sexist behaviour five times in seven years but he carried on hosting MasterChef

THE BBC was warned about Gregg Wallace’s sexist behaviour at least five times over seven years but he carried on presenting MasterChef, it has emerged.

The broadcaster carried out an HR investigation in 2018 and spoke to the star multiple times about inappropriate comments.

Celebrity MasterChef 2012 winner Emma Kennedy said she reported Wallace’s behaviour to a member of the production team but did not know if it was taken any further.

Georgia Harding, a MasterChef producer from 2014-15, said she raised concerns about his behaviour but nothing was done.

In 2017, radio broadcaster Aasmah Mir went on the celebrity version and sent an email to Kate Phillips, now head of unscripted TV for the BBC, about Wallace’s inappropriate comments.

In 2018, Wallace was reportedly issued with a formal warning by the BBC following an HR probe.

In 2022, director and producer Dawn Elrick said she sent a letter to the corporation with a number of anonymised accounts from people alleging Wallace acted inappropriately.

Yesterday The Sun on Sunday told how a Nestlé executive had written to the BBC with concerns about Wallace’s behaviour while filming a 2023 episode of Inside The Factory.

The BBC was criticised for failing to act on complaints made against convicted paedophile Huw Edwards.

It has faced a Strictly bullying row, sex allegations about comic Russell Brand, plus The One Show Jermaine Jenas’s inappropriate messages.

The BBC has said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.

“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.”

A BBC source added: “While we are not going to comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us.”