Carol Vorderman has spoken out against the toxic work environment on television, revealing she was axed from a show after calling it out.
The former face of Countdown, 63, addressed the recent allegations against Gregg Wallace and suggested this was just the tip of the iceberg in an industry with long-standing problems.
Speaking with the Mirrorshe said: “It’s about putting people down, especially women. And it’s not just Gregg Wallace. This type of behavior is widespread and has been happening for years.”
She then said that after she complained about inappropriate behavior on set, she became isolated and pushed out.
Carol noted, “I’ve made complaints, you may not be surprised, about several people. It’s clear I’m getting fired.
“But even in the last couple of years – I can’t tell you what show it was – I was complaining about someone, and then I never appeared again. It still happens today.”
Carol Vorderman has spoken out against the toxic work environment on television and revealed she was axed from a show after calling it out
The former face of Countdown, 63, addressed the recent allegations against Gregg Wallace (pictured) and suggested this was just the tip of the iceberg in an industry with long-standing problems
Gregg, 60, announced on Thursday that he is stepping down from MasterChef after almost two decades while an investigation into his alleged misconduct is carried out.
He last week faced allegations of inappropriate behavior from 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, over a 17-year period across five shows from 2005 to 2022.
Gregg is accused of telling a younger female colleague he wasn’t wearing boxer shorts under his jeans, walking into the studio naked except for a sock on his penis, and simulating a sex act with a producer as she knelt down to his to clean pants.
The latest allegations include a woman who said he groped her, another who claims he pressed his crotch against her while filming the BBC show Eat Well For Less and a third who claimed he flashed her in his dressing room .
Despite this, Gregg remains desperate to restore his reputation and the investigation’s findings are crucial if he is to continue appearing on screen.
He will likely raise the possibility that he has autism with Lewis Silkin, the London law firm hired by Banijay. The suggestion that he may never return to the BBC was reported by the Telegraph.
The friend said: ‘Gregg carries many of the symptoms of autism, the people who know him best have been saying so for years.
‘He has never been formally tested, due to a sense of responsibility over Sid’s diagnosis, but he really should have been, as this could explain a lot about his actions.
Carol said that after she complained about inappropriate behavior on set, she became isolated and pushed out
Gregg (right), 60, announced on Thursday that he is stepping down from MasterChef after almost two decades while an investigation into his alleged misconduct is conducted
“Gregg has form for his inability to read the room and say things that don’t really belong at the moment. He has no filter and in social situations that can become dangerous, especially when it comes to jokes about sex.
“He has a light filter when it comes to sex, which is common for people on the spectrum. In the modern TV world, where you can’t just dismiss some of his actions as banter.’
It comes as under-fire BBC bosses said the MasterChef Christmas specials would be released in a major reversal, after previously saying all filmed episodes would be broadcast.
Last year, Gregg was appointed ambassador for the charity Ambitious About Autism and was also praised for raising awareness of the condition by documenting Sid’s journey to his social media followers.
However, in February this year he faced a backlash after an interview with the Daily Telegraph went viral after Gregg claimed he spent more time playing computer games than interacting with Sid during an article described as his typical Saturday at home.
Gregg broke his silence on Thursday after officially stepping down from his position and thanking his fans for their support.
The BBC claims Gregg walked away from MasterChef after BBC News sent a letter to his agent a week ago Tuesday, outlining the allegations and giving him a right of reply.
They say he was warned after a complaint was filed in 2018, but new historical claims emerged in the summer of 2024.
Gregg has denied conduct of a sexually harassing nature
Gregg is “committed to cooperating fully throughout the process,” according to the show’s production company, Banijay UK.
Restaurant critic William Sitwell defended Wallace on Friday, revealing in the Daily Telegraph that his friend ‘always takes a genuine interest in the welfare of those around him’.
‘The health, wealth, or otherwise, of those he works with, of his friends and a very large circle of acquaintances. And he is just as open about his own life, sometimes very extraordinary.’
Moreover, he also said that he tells jokes “like he’s doing a Bernard Manning comedy.”
Gregg has denied conduct of a sexually harassing nature.