The BBC director-general has said he is expecting the external review into complaints against MasterChef host Gregg Wallace to come back within “weeks not months”. It was announced in November that the show’s production company Banijay UK is investigating historical allegations of misconduct against Wallace after he stepped away from hosting the BBC One cooking show.
Wallace’s lawyers previously told the BBC “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”. Asked for an update on the report at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Mr Davie said: “They’re doing their work and we’re hoping weeks not months.”
Discussing the string of high-profile BBC media figures who have been in the spotlight over the last year due to allegations, the BBC boss said: “This abuse of power, we want to finish it.”
He added that he has made it clear to the BBC staff that “everyone is dispensable” when asked about top talent being held to account.
At the same time, B BC chairman Samir Shah has said the corporation has not been able to recover any salary from former broadcaster Huw Edwards yet, which he described as “quite frustrating”.
Last year, Edwards was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted to having indecent images of children. After his guilty plea in July, the BBC asked him to return his salary, which he was paid during the period following his arrest in November 2023 until he resigned in April 2024.
Asked if they have been able to recover any salary from Edwards during the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Dr Shah said: “We have not… We’ve obviously asked, and we’ve said it many times, but he seems unwilling. There was a moment that we thought that he might just do the right thing for a change, then he decided not to.”
He added: “It’s quite frustrating this, really, because I think he should have done it. He could still do it. It’s not right. He’s taken licence fee payers’ money and he knew what he’d done and he should return it now.”
The BBC director general also confirmed the corporation has sought legal advice and there is nothing more it can do at this stage.