Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has decided to withdraw his legal action against the BBC and will not receive any compensation or costs. Wallace had been seeking up to £10,000 in damages from the corporation, but court documents now confirm that his claim against the BBC and BBC Studios has been dropped.
The former presenter had accused the broadcaster of causing him “distress and harassment” by failing to adequately respond to a request for his personal data. Wallace initiated legal proceedings against the BBC and BBC Studios after his departure from the cooking show in July.
His dismissal followed an investigation that substantiated over 40 complaints regarding his behavior on MasterChef, including instances of unwanted physical contact and inappropriate undressing.
Wallace has previously expressed remorse for any distress caused and clarified that he never intended to harm or embarrass anyone.
The BBC had consistently stated that Gregg Wallace was not entitled to any damages, as per their response to his legal challenge.
In their defense submitted to the High Court in October, the BBC refuted the claim that Wallace had suffered distress or harassment due to their handling of his requests.
The corporation also argued that Wallace filed his claim without prior notice and pointed out that they provided him with the personal data they believed he was entitled to on October 7.
On Friday, the BBC confirmed that just before a scheduled hearing on February 16, Wallace discontinued his claim and will not be receiving any payment in costs or damages from either the BBC or BBC Studios.
Greg Wallace was the face of MasterChef for two decades before stepping down from his hosting role last year following multiple misconduct allegations initially reported by BBC News.
In January, Wallace admitted that the comment leading to his dismissal was “foolish, defensive, and conceited.” In his public apology after the dismissal, Wallace, aged 61, expressed regret for his actions but highlighted that the innuendos on MasterChef were comparable to those on The Great British Bake Off, a popular Channel 4 show.
Wallace clarified that he never intended to make anyone uncomfortable and acknowledged why contestants might have been reluctant to challenge his behavior at the time, fearing it could impact their chances of winning the show.
He was removed from the BBC program in July last year amidst claims of inappropriate behavior and comments, allegations that he vehemently denies.
His recent apology, posted on Instagram, garnered significant attention and was widely shared. In it, the entrepreneur, who grew up in Peckham, southeast London, admitted to being “foolish, defensive, and conceited.”
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