Globe writer Gregg Wallace claimed in his 2012 autobiography that he was sexually harassed while working on the book.
Shannon Kyle he told BBC Newsnight That Wallace inappropriately touched her thigh while sitting in the passenger seat of his sports car, and touched her bottom during an appearance on the Good Food show.
Lawyers representing Wallace said: “Celes has denied that he was involved in any such relationship, and has specifically denied any sexual misconduct with Ms Kyle.”
Kyle was working on Wallace’s book, Life on a Plate, when he said the MasterChef presenter answered the door wearing only a towel, which he later dropped, to be “upset” and “harmful” when sexual suggestions were made to him, and he inappropriately touched her.
Kyle, who has written several books, previously signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The NDA said “the writer understands that Wallace enjoys a high public profile and that his obligations of loyalty and confidentiality are of particular importance to him.”
“I’m worried about losing my job,” he told Newsnight. “Because I gave all my work to this work. So I thought to myself… this is all to try and sail, [I’ll] Just try and push through,” he said. “It was just really shocking.”
When allegations about Wallace’s inappropriate comments and behavior emerged last week, Kyle said it was “a long time coming.”
He pointed out his “predatory” behavior and said: “Sometimes you have to speak up for the right.”
The criminal writer claimed Wallace’s actions were relieved by some of his “barre-boy humor” but pointed to her “failure of misogyny.”
BBC News last week brought allegations from 13 people across the ages who worked on five different programs, making allegations of inappropriate sexual comments at Wallace.
People who have come forward with allegations against Wallace include former BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who said he told stories and jokes of a “sexual” nature in front of the contestants and the crowd who were on Celebrity MasterChef.
Melanie Sykes also told him she made a silent complaint of Wallace, saying that working with him on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 was his reason to retire from TV. On Tuesday. the The BBC have pulled off two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specialsA day Waleys had excused to dismiss the accusers as “Middle-class women of a certain age”adding that he would take some time off.
Wallace is facing a series of allegations of past wrongdoing – including three of inappropriate touching – which are being investigated by MasterChef production company, Banijay UK. Previously, Wallach’s lawyers said he had denied any sexually harassing behavior.
As the number of allegations against Wallace grew, the BBC pulled its MasterChef Christmas special and on Wednesday his season co-host John Torode said he found them “really shocking” and accepted the ongoing investigation.
A BBC spokesman thanked anyone who “dared to speak out” over the allegations against Wallace. He told Newsnight that Banijay UK had brought a review of its contractual relationship with Wallace.
“The BBC doesn’t use it. When the issues were raised when we took action with the BBC, the issues related to the production company and directly challenging its behavior as it was published.”
New claims emerged that the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the allegations made by Wallace were “outrageous”.
He said employers are taking serious concerns about “workplace harassment.”
Cooper told Sky News you should “never underestimate women of a certain age”, adding: “Some of the stories we heard were really quite sad.”
He said it’s difficult for him to discuss individual cases, but “really, I think it’s depressing that we hear the same story too often” about people in positions of power abusing their status and “about workplace harassment that just doesn’t exist. It’s pretty underrated.”
“And we need the Lord to take these things seriously,” he added.
On Monday, Wallace apologized for claiming complaints about his behavior from “a few middle-class women of a certain age.”