Revealed: BBC bosses’ desperate bid to protect second star tarnished by Gregg Wallace scandal as they battle to save MasterChef from total cancellation - suong

In a desperate behind-the-scenes effort to contain the fallout from the Gregg Wallace scandal, BBC executives have been scrambling to shield a second high-profile MasterChef figure whose name, until now, has been carefully kept out of the headlines, DailyMail+ can exclusively reveal.

According to multiple internal sources, panic has erupted inside Broadcasting House after a trove of internal complaints and emails allegedly linked another MasterChef judge—who cannot yet be named for legal reasons—to “inappropriate conduct” involving junior production staff during overseas filming.

The revelation comes just weeks after Gregg Wallace, 59, was quietly “stepped back” from several BBC projects following intense backlash over his reported behaviour toward crew members on Inside the Factory. Now, a second domino threatens to fall—one that could topple the entire MasterChef franchise if public trust crumbles further.

“It’s not just Gregg anymore,” a well-placed production insider told DailyMail+. “There are concerns about a culture that’s been allowed to fester for years. The BBC is terrified that this second scandal could destroy one of their crown jewels.”

Insiders say crisis talks have been taking place daily between senior BBC management and Fremantle, the production company behind MasterChef, as they work to prevent key sponsors from pulling out of future seasons.

In one internal memo seen by DailyMail+, BBC communications strategists warned: “We are one front-page story away from cancellation. Every department must remain on-message. No leaks, no freelance interviews, no comment.”

A second source revealed that several former junior researchers and assistants were “formally interviewed” by BBC HR last week following “serious but previously ignored concerns” raised during the filming of MasterChef: The Professionals abroad in 2023.

While Gregg Wallace continues to deny any wrongdoing beyond “occasional banter taken out of context,” the emerging allegations against the unnamed co-star appear to be of a more sustained nature, involving “abuse of power” and “undermining behaviours.”

Curiously, attempts to deflect from the second star’s involvement have included planting positive stories about their charity work and family life in select media outlets, sparking accusations from critics that the BBC is orchestrating a PR whitewash.

“They’re trying to salvage the franchise at all costs,” said one former BBC editor. “This is a containment operation, not an investigation.”

Multiple sources have confirmed that lawyers have been brought in to manage “reputation risk,” with some staff members signing NDAs in exchange for severance pay. DailyMail+ has seen one such agreement, which included clauses preventing any mention of “bullying, harassment or inappropriate workplace behaviour relating to MasterChef productions between 2020 and 2024.”

Longtime fans of the show, which draws millions of viewers per season and has spun off into dozens of international versions, are now demanding accountability. Several online forums have lit up with speculation about who the second star might be, with hashtags like #MasterChefCoverUp and #BBCScandal trending earlier this week.

Yet the BBC remains tight-lipped, issuing only a generic statement: “We take all allegations seriously and investigate where appropriate. We are committed to a safe and respectful working environment across all productions.”

But for many, that isn’t enough.

“If they think they can sacrifice Gregg and quietly protect the rest, they’ve grossly underestimated how much viewers care about integrity,” wrote one former contestant in an open letter posted to Instagram.

As the scandal deepens and legal threats mount, some insiders say the next season of MasterChef—originally slated to film this autumn—may face delays or even cancellation.

Whether the BBC comes clean or continues to protect its golden geese behind legal firewalls remains to be seen.

But one thing is certain: the heat in the MasterChef kitchen isn’t just coming from the stoves anymore.