Television presenter Aggie MacKenzie, who competed on “Celebrity MasterChef” in 2011, told ITV on Monday that Wallace made “endless smutty jokes” and alleged that “he’s been allowed to carry on in his own sweet way for many, many years.”

MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has apologised for suggesting allegations against him came from "a handful of middle-class women of a certain age". The TV host had said on Sunday there had been "13 complaints" from "over 4,000 contestants" he had worked with in 20 years on the BBC cookery show.

Gregg Wallace’s claim that accusations of inappropriate behaviour against him came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” has sparked a furious backlash and left the BBC in turmoil. The MasterChef presenter stepped back from the cooking show on Thursday after various allegations emerged that he had made sexual comments to staff and guests.