BBC pulls Christmas cooking show amid harassment claims

LONDON: The BBC said on Tuesday it will cancel two special Christmas shows of popular cooking programme “MasterChef” after allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour were made against one of its presenters.

But the last three shows of the current already-recorded season of “MasterChef: The Professionals” would air as planned this week to showcase the competition final.

“The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them,” a BBC spokesman said.

But they added the “life-changing” competition in which professional chefs pit their culinary skills against each other in the battle for the coveted MasterChef trophy would “continue as planned”.

The British broadcaster has come under increasing pressure since allegations emerged against presenter Gregg Wallace.

Wallace has denied making “inappropriate” sexual jokes and comments after more than a dozen people came forward last week with allegations spanning a 17-year period.

The production company behind “MasterChef”, a decades-old show whose branded format is now produced in more than 50 countries, has said it is probing the claims.