(Image via: BBC)
The BBC is, once again, talking about itself. This time, Masterchef host Gregg Wallace (pictured on right) is in the spotlight. It follows a string of allegations about inappropriate conduct against him. Furthemore, the TV chef posted an unpleasant video, dismissively describing his accusers as “middle-class women of a certain age”. Now, the Beeb has pulled the show’s Christmas specials. MasterChef: The Professionals remains on air at the time of writing.
In a statement, A BBC spokesperson said:
As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.
I confess Masterchef is not a show I regularly settle down to. The only time I generally see any version of it is when it’s playing in the nail bar I go to. I enjoy it and, quite understandably, the show is pretty popular. However, it is no more than a well-formatted cooking series, not a centre of political power.
I am categorically not denying the seriousness of the allegations or the fact they need to be thoroughly dealt with. People in positions of power in their industry, as Wallace most certainly is, should behave properly. The must be held to account if they don’t. It may also be that systems around the BBC have failed, allowing Gregg Wallace to get away with the wrongdoing he is accused of for far too long. That matters too. However, at the time of writing, he has not been charged with anything criminal or spoken to the police.
I’m not sure, therfore, that coverage of the Masterchef host should be placed ahead of the US President’s decision to pardon his son or events in Syria, as happened on yesterday’s BBC 6 O’Clock News.
Gregg Wallace Coverage is Overcompensating
One BBC insider told me:
There are mixed feelings among staff about the BBC’s handling of the Gregg Wallace story. He isn’t accused of a crime and the BBC also has a duty of care towards him, but the coverage has been disproportionate and even irresponsible. His career is in ruins because of trial by media and some staff feel the BBC has overdone it.
BBC News is seemingly so desperate to show that is fair-minded and balanced, and so scarred by its failures in the Jimmy Savile scandal, that it is massively overcompensating. It is giving the issue far more coverage than it really deserves. (For the record, we do not need MPs like Rupa Huq, nevermind Downing Street, getting involved either). The broadcaster’s media editor, Katie Razzall, was keen to emphasise on the news yesterday evening that Masterchef is made by an independent production company for the BBC, not by the BBC itself. This makes Aunty’s self-flagellating approach even more bizarre.
There is rather a lot going on in the world. There’s plenty of big media news to report on. Britain’s leading public service news provider should spend more time on reporting on all that properly instead of obsessively covering Gregg Wallace.
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