Labour MP Rupa Huq has called for the BBC to consider temporarily suspending broadcasts of MasterChef while allegations against presenter Gregg Wallace are being investigated.
Wallace, 60, stepped aside from the popular cooking show last week following a BBC News investigation that revealed allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across five different shows. The presenter has denied any sexually harassing behavior.
The controversy intensified after Wallace posted a video on Instagram describing the complaints as coming from "a handful of middle-class women of a certain age" - comments that Downing Street has now labeled as "inappropriate and misogynistic."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Huq, who serves on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, expressed concerns about continuing to air pre-recorded episodes featuring Wallace: "To the casual viewer, there's not going to be any difference. If it's on TV tonight, it looks like he sort of got away with it."
The MP emphasized that broadcasting further episodes "could be massively triggering for the women involved" and urged the BBC to pause the series "out of sensitivity" while the investigation proceeds.
Among those speaking out is former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Ulrika Jonsson, who alleged Wallace made a "rape joke" during her time on the show. Times Radio presenter Aasmah Mir has also revealed she raised concerns about Wallace's behavior in 2017.
The BBC confirmed that Wallace had previously received a warning in 2018 following a complaint about his conduct on the show Impossible Celebrities.
While production company Banijay UK has launched an investigation with Wallace's cooperation, the next episode of MasterChef: The Professionals remains scheduled to air at 21:00 GMT Monday on BBC One, with additional episodes planned for Tuesday and Thursday.
The prime minister's office stated that while a thorough investigation is necessary, decisions about broadcasting remain "for the BBC and the production company."
Note: The provided link about Disney's gender discrimination settlement is not directly related to the article about Gregg Wallace and BBC MasterChef allegations, so following instruction #4, I have omitted including it in the article.