Gregg Wallace has reportedly been ruled out of ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! after saying he planned to sue the BBC over his dismissal from MasterChef.
The former MasterChef presenter, 60, said this month that he would welcome consideration for the next series of the jungle show but had yet to be approached. ITV sources told British tabloid outlets that Wallace would not be invited to appear on the programme.
Wallace has told media outlets he has launched legal proceedings at London's High Court seeking the release of internal BBC documents related to his departure from the cooking series. He has said he will "not go quietly" and intends to pursue what his representatives describe as evidence that could clear his name and recover lost earnings. News reports also say he may pursue a disability claim linked to an autism diagnosis he announced in January.
A BBC spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the corporation had not been formally notified of any legal proceedings and was unable to comment. Representatives for ITV and for Wallace were contacted by the Daily Mail, according to the reporting.
Wallace stepped down from MasterChef this year after a review into his conduct. The independent review examined complaints relating to his behaviour and, according to the report, found that 83 complaints had been made and 45 were upheld. The review said the majority of substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, and that a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and incidents of being in a state of undress were substantiated. It also said one incident of unwelcome physical contact was upheld. The reporting said complaints had come from 41 individuals.
Wallace has acknowledged that some allegations may be true but has said others were "perceived incorrectly." He has told interviewers that he believes workplace culture and learned behaviour contributed to the complaints and said he struggled to "read people," pointing to his recent autism diagnosis. "Autism is a disability, a registered disability," he said in a public statement, adding that he believed the BBC had not investigated or provided support for his neurodiversity during his 20 years on the show.
Media reports quoting unnamed ITV insiders described a "firm 'no thanks'" to any appearance by Wallace on the network's reality show, saying viewers would be disappointed if they expected to see him with hosts Ant and Dec. The Mirror and other outlets published the account; the Daily Mail reported the developments.
The fallout from the MasterChef review has affected other talent. Australian-born chef John Torode, who co-hosted MasterChef alongside Wallace for two decades, also left the programme after allegations relating to his use of a racial slur were upheld in the same review.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie has said the corporation may see further disclosures as part of its ongoing handling of talent complaints. The broadcaster has said it takes such matters seriously and is continuing to assess the findings and any subsequent legal notifications.
Wallace's legal action, if formally filed and served, could prompt court processes that may lead to the disclosure of correspondence and internal documents. Any subsequent disability or compensation claims would proceed through the appropriate legal channels and could take months to resolve.