Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace is reportedly launching legal action against the BBC over a data protection claim, according to court documents. The case has been filed at the High Court, but no further details have yet been made public. Wallace, 60, had fronted MasterChef for the past 20 years but stepped back from the BBC programme last year amid claims of misconduct. The show's production company Banijay ordered an immediate inquiry into the allegations, which was conducted by an independent law firm. This summer, the report revealed that 45 claims against Wallace had been substantiated, including one of unwelcome physical contact and three of being in a state of undress.
The report said 83 allegations were made against the TV chef with the majority of the upheld claims relating to inappropriate sexual language and humour. Following news that Wallace has launched legal against the corporation, a BBC spokesperson told Express.co.uk: "We have not been formally notified of any legal proceedings so at this stage we are unable to comment."
Following the report, Wallace previously told PA news agency that "none of the serious allegations against me were upheld".
He added: "I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended."
A separate claim was made against his co-star John Torode who was dropped from the show in July.
Torode had used a severely offensive racist term in a complaint upheld against him but the chef had "no recollection" of the incident.
Both presenters were sacked, but the BBC decided to still broadcast this year's amateurs series of MasterChef
The BBC's director general Tim Davie defended that decision, saying the "vast majority" of chefs on the show wanted it to air.
Speaking on Tuesday, he explained: "I think the consequences for the individuals who presented MasterChef have been very significant, they're no longer working with the BBC, so there are those consequences."
It was announced this week that food critic Grace Dent and chef Anna Haugh are the new hosts of MasterChef.
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