Presenter Gregg Wallace has claimed he has been found guilty of using inappropriate language but cleared of “the most serious and sensational accusations made against me”, as he spoke out before the publication of a report on his behaviour.
The former BBC presenter has also taken aim at the corporation in a furious Instagram post pre-empting the report, which was commissioned by the MasterChef producers and overseen by a London law firm.
While he conceded he had used inappropriate language, he said he had now been formally diagnosed with autism, which was “suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef”.
It comes after BBC News said it had heard allegations of inappropriate sexual comments and inappropriate behaviour by 13 people who worked with Wallace across a 17-year period.
The report was commissioned by producers Banijay and overseen by the law firm Lewis Silkin. Its findings are due to be published later this week. Banijay and the BBC have been contacted for comment.