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.”

The BBC refused on Monday night to pull programmes featuring Gregg Wallace off air, despite Downing Street describing his comments about middle-class women as “inappropriate and misogynistic”.The first of the semi-finals of the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals aired as planned on Monday night despite calls for it to be withdrawn from the schedule amid growing allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour against the presenter.

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.

MasterChef presenter faces backlash after claiming allegations against him were from ‘handful of middle-class women of a certain age’

The BBC should consider pausing MasterChef while Gregg Wallace is investigated, an MP has suggested. Rupa Huq, who is also a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the continued broadcast of MasterChef could be "triggering" for the women involved.

The British government’s culture secretary has held talks with the BBC as the broadcaster comes under growing scrutiny after one of its TV hosts drew an angry backlash for dismissing sexual misconduct

The BBC is under increasing pressure to pull the current series of MasterChef off air amid allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour against Gregg Wallace.

Gregg Wallace's defence of his actions on MasterChef was "inappropriate and misogynistic", Downing Street has said. On Sunday, Wallace said accusations relating to his behaviour on the show had come from a "handful of middle-class women of a certain age".

Allegations about Gregg Wallace's behaviour on Channel 5's Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends have been brought to BBC News by staff members during the current series of MasterChef

Gregg Wallace's response to misconduct allegations on MasterChef and other BBC shows have been described as "misogynistic" by Downing Street