Gregg Wallace has filed a High Court lawsuit against the BBC after being fired as the presenter of MasterChef in a misconduct scandal.
Wallace has launched proceedings under the Media and Communications list at the High Court, citing data protection concerns. He is suing the BBC and BBC Studios Distribution Limited.
The BBC has been approached for comment. In a statement released to BBC News on Tuesday, the broadcaster said it had “not been formally notified of any legal proceedings.”
Deadline has previously reported that Wallace believes he has been the victim of disability discrimination after her was diagnosed with autism. Neurodiversity specialists have told Wallace that he is uncertain of social boundaries.
The 60-year-old presenter has engaged Lawrence Power, a barrister at Whitestone Chambers, to fight his corner. He is no longer represented by Dan Morrison, a partner at Grosvenor Law.
Nearly 50 allegations against Wallace were substantiated by a Banijay-commissioned report into his behavior by Lewis Silkin, making his position “untenable.”
The majority of the upheld allegations against Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humor. There were a small number of other inappropriate language complaints and of him being in a state of undress. One incident of unwelcome physical contact was substantiated, the report found.
Wallace apologized for using “inappropriate language” between 2005 and 2018, but denied more serious allegations.
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