MasterChef host Gregg Wallace faced a mounting backlash over the weekend after he claimed that allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour made against him came from a “handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.

Gregg Wallace’s claim that accusations of inappropriate behaviour against him came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” has sparked a furious backlash and left the BBC in turmoil. The MasterChef presenter stepped back from the cooking show on Thursday after various allegations emerged that he had made sexual comments to staff and guests.

The British government’s culture secretary has held talks with the BBC as the broadcaster comes under growing scrutiny after one of its TV hosts drew an angry backlash for dismissing sexual misconduct