'I will not go quietly': Masterchef star Gregg Wallace slams 'slanderous' BBC amid sacking reports - read full statement

Back in November, the former greengrocer "stepped away" from presenting the much-loved cooking show while an investigation was launched into claims of historic misconduct.

13 people made complaints of inappropriate sexual comments against him over a 17-year period.

Now, the accusations from Wallace come following the conclusion of the nine-month investigation - known as the Silkins Report - into the allegations.

He claims he has been cleared by the report of the "most serious and sensational accusations made against me."

He added the "most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation".

However, he added the reports finds him guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018

"I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation."

The BBC said they cannot fire Mr Wallace as they don’t employ him.

A spokesperson said: “Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace.

"We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.”

The organisation added the Silkins Report will be published by Banijay, not the BBC.

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His full statement reads: "I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report - a decision I do not take lightly.

"But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.

"I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.

"The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.

"My decision to go public now is also driven by the fact the BBC News division are intending to platform legally unsafe accusations, including claims which have already been investigated and not upheld by the BBC and found not credible by Silkins.

"The BBC is no longer providing balanced and impartial public service journalism. It is peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories.

"The BBC is choosing to allow BBC News to run with this uncorroborated tittle tattle in an attempt to 'get ahead' of the Silkin's summary report and derail what has been an extremely thorough process.

"This feels to me like BBC News is chasing slanderous click-bait rather than delivering impartial journalism.

"To be clear, the Silkin's Report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018.

"I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate.

"For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.

"I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all.

"For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem.

"My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of Master Chef.

"Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over twenty years. That failure is now being quietly buried.

"Unfortunately, the full report (over 200 pages) will never be seen. Later this week, the BBC will publish a short Executive Summary.

"What really concerns me about the short summary is others who have been found guilty of serious allegations have been erased from the published version of events.

"I, and I'm sure the public, would like to know why? I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.

"I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established.

"The full story of this incredible injustice must be told and it is very much a matter of public interest."

Gregg Wallace