Fallen MasterChef star Gregg Wallace allegedly harassed a young reporter who interviewed him, asking for a 'snog' and leaving her voicemails for 'weeks'.
The 60-year-old is currently facing claims from at least 13 women across five shows over a 17-year period, who have accused him of inappropriate behaviour, including roaming around on set naked with a sock on his penis, inappropriate jokes and groping crew members.
Other allegations include talking openly about his sex life on set, including details of intimate acts, flirting with crew members and asking younger female colleagues for their numbers.
A journalist who worked for The Grocer magazine as a junior reporter in 2009 said Wallace once asked for her number and told her he would be a 'great contact' for her as a journalist.
The reporter, then 26, interviewed Wallace at the magazine's Own-Label Excellence awards at the Hurlingham Club, south-west London in 2009.
She was left with an 'slightly icky feeling' from the attention he was giving her and after they parted ways, she received a text.
The former journalist told The Guardian he left her a message saying: 'All right, gorgeous' and then something about, 'I like the way you're eating that'.
He asked her for 'a snog' and left multiple 'creepy' voicemails, some of which she played to colleagues who reacted with shock.
Gregg Wallace (pictured) is currently facing claims from at least 13 women
The Grocer's editor Adam Leyland (pictured) said that following Wallace's alleged behaviour he 'vowed' never to work with the disgraced MasterChef judge again
The reporter, then 26, interviewed Wallace at the magazine's Own-Label Excellence awards at the Hurlingham Club, south-west London in 2009
The Grocer's editor Adam Leyland said that following Wallace's alleged behaviour he 'vowed' never to work with the disgraced MasterChef judge again.
He said he has always remembered Wallace's 'pervy' behaviour towards the young reporter that night.
She said Wallace texted her and left voicemails for 'weeks' and they had 'these innuendoes about food and tasting'
She recalled telling a co-worker: 'I feel like he's kind of stalking me'.
Wallace's lawyers said: 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'.
Allegations were raised by staff members about Wallace's behaviour on Channel 5' s Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends during a BBC News investigation, with producer Rumpus Media saying was investigating allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour'.
One woman said that while making Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends in 2019, he became 'fascinated' by her relationships with women and wanted to know the 'logistics' of her sex life.
Another woman said that while working on the Channel 5 programme at the same time, Wallace's conversation often revolved around sex, including spanking and domination.
Gregg Wallace posted on Instagram hitting back at the allegations made against him
Wallace quit BBC show Inside The Factory in March last year after allegations that he had been 'rude towards staff' and spoke to them in a 'derogatory manner, especially to women'
At least 13 people have made a formal complaint against Wallace, while other celebrities and former contestants have also spoken about his alleged behaviour
A third woman who worked on the show, who BBC News called Amanda, said Wallace allegedly showed her photos of a woman in her underwear while they were travelling in a car together.
She also recalled how he allegedly took off his top and said 'let me give you a fashion show' in front of her and a male colleague when trying on outfits in his hotel room after filming had wrapped for the day.
Her colleague then left the room and she told BBC News: 'It's weird to be alone in a room with a topless stranger.'
Another person who worked with him on Channel 5 travel show, claimed that he treated women dismissively.
Wallace allegedly offended certain female staff members at the Nestlé UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a 'friendly' conversation.
The comments were non-sexual but were deemed 'inappropriate' and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show.
'He was rude towards staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women.
'He was given a talking-to and was appalled that he had caused such offence,' a source said.
The BBC has pulled its planned MasterChef Christmas specials amid a series of allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour against presenter Gregg Wallace (right, pictured with co-host John Torode)
Fallen MasterChef star Gregg Wallace allegedly harassed a young reporter who interviewed him, asking for a 'snog' and leaving her voicemails for 'weeks'
MasterChef: The Professionals is hosted by Gregg Wallace and Monica Galetti
Voltage TV asked Wallace to moderate his language and filming continued - but his behaviour seemingly didn't change.
Staff reportedly informed management that they did not want the show to return while Wallace remained at the helm.
Melanie Sykes said Wallace was the reason she left her TV career behind, while Vanessa Feltz alleged he had told a lewd sex story about his wife in a BBC lift.
Sykes said she made an informal complaint against Wallace, and claimed she found conduct on the MasterChef set 'jaw-dropping'.
And broadcaster Vanessa Feltz claimed he had described a sex act he had performed on his wife while in a BBC lift with her friend.
It follows ongoing backlash after Wallace took to Instagram with a furious rant in which he accused the allegations of being made by a handful of 'middle-class women of a certain age'.
Wallace issued an apology for any 'offence' or 'upset' he caused with his statement over the weekend, saying: 'I wasn't in a good headspace when I posted it, I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it.'
He added: 'It's obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology.'
His apology came after it sparked a backlash, with Downing Street saying his response to the accusations was 'inappropriate and misogynistic'.
Sykes (centre) claimed Gregg Wallace greeted her on set by asking if models eat, which she said she found 'unprofessional'
Others have branded the video a 'classic' non-apology.
The presenter, 60, apologised after his controversial comments on Instagram over the weekend caused another PR storm, blaming 'a huge amount of stress' and 'a lot of emotion' for the error.
The U-turn came hours after an insider told MailOnline he had 'gone rogue' and was ignoring 'all advice' about how to salvage his TV career following the scandal.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Monday, when asked if the cookery show should be pulled off air, that the decision was for the BBC and the show's production company and reiterated that Downing Street believes it is 'right' that a thorough investigation is conducted.
Downing Street also said that the TV star's response to the accusations being made against him was 'inappropriate and misogynistic' and confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of the Wallace row.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
'The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.'
