BBC under pressure over claims against ‘Masterchef’ presenter

LONDON: The BBC faced pressure on Monday to take one of its most popular and long-running shows, “MasterChef”, off air following claims one of the programme´s presenters engaged in sexually harassing behaviour.

Presenter Gregg Wallace has denied making “inappropriate” sexual jokes and comments after more than a dozen people came forward last week with allegations spanning a 17-year period. But he was forced into making a new apology on Monday for his remarks.

The furore is the latest scandal to hit the taxpayer-funded British broadcaster. Another prime-time show, “Strictly Come Dancing”, was thrown into crisis this year amid bullying accusations.

And former top news anchor, Huw Edwards, pleaded guilty in July to making indecent pictures of children, narrowly avoiding jail in a stunning fall from grace. The production company behind “MasterChef”, a decades-old show aired on the BBC whose branded format is now produced in more than 50 countries, has said it is probing the claims against Wallace.

It also announced that Wallace would stop presenting while it investigates, but that the current recorded season of “MasterChef: The Professionals” would continue to air.