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Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter
Jul 14
Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter upheld, including one of unwanted physical contact

MasterChef's production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months. The report said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace's return to MasterChef "untenable". Last week it emerged Wallace had been sacked as MasterChef presenter, with reports of more than 50 fresh allegations against him. The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants. The investigations team spoke to Wallace three times for the report, conducting 14 hours of interviews with him. There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were upheld. All were related to MasterChef. The upheld allegations were: • Twelve claims he made inappropriate jokes and innuendo; • Sixteen reports he made sexually explicit comments; • Two allegations that he made sexualised comments to or about someone; • Four complaints that he made culturally insensitive or racist comments; • Three claims that he was in a state of undress; • Seven allegations of bullying; • One allegation of unwanted touching. Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place after 2018. Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been "cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations" made against him. He also said his neurodiversity had "now formally (been) diagnosed as autism", saying in the social media post that it was "suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef". Additionally, the report summary found there were 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. These were unrelated to Wallace, and those people were not named in the summary. The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024. While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures before 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016. While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence. Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace today. Responding to the findings of the report, the BBC said the corporation had "no plans to work with [Wallace] in future", saying his behaviour "falls below the values of the BBC". The BBC said "opportunities were missed" to address Wallace's behaviour, adding, "We accept more could and should have been done sooner". Concerning the allegations against other individuals flagged in the report, the BBC said they had asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, and said it would "be completed as a priority". The corporation has yet to decide if the unseen MasterChef series that was filmed with Wallace last year will still be aired. Banijay UK chief executive Patrick Holland called the report "uncomfortable reading", but said its findings provided "valuable insight" for production teams moving forward. In a nod to Wallace's recent autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, Mr Holland said Wallace's neurodiversity was "relevant to certain behaviours identified in the report", admitting "the production could have done more to identify, manage and communicate patterns of inappropriate behaviour". Wallace was the original presenter of the BBC show Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also featured on Eat Well For Less?, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest and Supermarket Secrets. He was best known, however, for presenting MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, and Celebrity MasterChef.

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Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter
Jul 14
Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter upheld, including one of unwanted physical contact

MasterChef's production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months. The report said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace's return to MasterChef "untenable". Last week it emerged Wallace had been sacked as MasterChef presenter, with reports of more than 50 fresh allegations against him. The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants. The investigations team spoke to Wallace three times for the report, conducting 14 hours of interviews with him. There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were upheld. All were related to MasterChef. The upheld allegations were: • Twelve claims he made inappropriate jokes and innuendo; • Sixteen reports he made sexually explicit comments; • Two allegations that he made sexualised comments to or about someone; • Four complaints that he made culturally insensitive or racist comments; • Three claims that he was in a state of undress; • Seven allegations of bullying; • One allegation of unwanted touching. Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place after 2018. Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been "cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations" made against him. He also said his neurodiversity had "now formally (been) diagnosed as autism", saying in the social media post that it was "suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef". Additionally, the report summary found there were 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. These were unrelated to Wallace, and those people were not named in the summary. The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024. While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures before 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016. While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence. Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace today. Responding to the findings of the report, the BBC said the corporation had "no plans to work with [Wallace] in future", saying his behaviour "falls below the values of the BBC". The BBC said "opportunities were missed" to address Wallace's behaviour, adding, "We accept more could and should have been done sooner". Concerning the allegations against other individuals flagged in the report, the BBC said they had asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, and said it would "be completed as a priority". The corporation has yet to decide if the unseen MasterChef series that was filmed with Wallace last year will still be aired. Banijay UK chief executive Patrick Holland called the report "uncomfortable reading", but said its findings provided "valuable insight" for production teams moving forward. In a nod to Wallace's recent autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, Mr Holland said Wallace's neurodiversity was "relevant to certain behaviours identified in the report", admitting "the production could have done more to identify, manage and communicate patterns of inappropriate behaviour". Wallace was the original presenter of the BBC show Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also featured on Eat Well For Less?, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest and Supermarket Secrets. He was best known, however, for presenting MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, and Celebrity MasterChef.

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No Writer
Jul 14
Comeback kid: Rachel Reeves's revival plan

The chancellor is back out on the road to start the government's re-launch week, ahead of the parliamentary recess. In today's episode, Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy explain how comments on a proposed wealth tax by Rachel Reeves's cabinet colleagues may have already put her in a tricky situation. Elsewhere, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Windsor Castle will host US President Donald Trump for a second unprecedented state visit in September.

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No Writer
Jul 13
Katie Taylor completes Amanda Serrano trilogy as Savannah Marshall suffers upset loss to Shadasia Green

After their 10-round clash for the WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA 140lb titles at Madison Square Garden, Taylor was declared winner by scores of 97-93 on two of the judges' cards, while the third had them even at 95-95. It was the third-straight close contest between the two, after Taylor won a split decision in their first bout and a narrow unanimous victory in the second. Board of Control has no issue with 160lb limit for Eubank-Benn rematchWardley: It wouldn't surprise me if Fury retired again next weekNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! Back in Madison Square Garden, the site of their first fight, Taylor improved her record to 25-1 (6) in a bout that might not have been as exciting as their first two, but was similarly almost too close to call. Serrano, 47-4-1 (31), never really hurt Taylor on this occasion, expected to be the pair's final fight. It was a festive atmosphere in front of another sold-out crowd of more than 19,000 split between Irish and Puerto Rican fans with the historic arena hosting its first all-women's card. Serrano was all smiles on a joyous ring walk accompanied by the Knicks City Dancers. There were barely any meaningful punches in the first round. By the third they were trading shots and both were landing flurries. But Serrano seemed to fight more cautiously than she had before against Taylor, keeping her distance, perhaps wary of clashing heads which had left her cut in their second fight. Taylor looked to control the centre of the ring and landed some good counter shots as she drew Serrano onto her. Several rounds could have gone either way as the fight built to a tense climax, Serrano coming forward more and forcing Taylor into a corner in the fifth round, but the champion fought her way out. Taylor was marked under the right eye in the eighth, but edged the final two rounds to secure the verdict. Ruling out a fourth meeting with the Puerto Rican, Taylor was cagey about whether she would continue to fight. "I don't know, I just don't want to fight Amanda Serrano again. She punches too hard," she said after the bout. "I have a huge ton of respect for Amanda, she's such a warrior. It's a pleasure to share a ring with her. "We have made history three times. We are history makers forever. "I thought I was boxing very smart, she wasn't able to catch me very much tonight. But it's always close against Amanda." Serrano reflected she'd tried to work "smarter not harder" this time against Taylor. "We tried to stay with the long punches and one twos," she said, "and it just wasn't enough." Savannah Marshall suffered a shock defeat on her return to boxing. After a sojourn in MMA, Marshall, formerly an undisputed super-middleweight champion, lost to Shadasia Green in an IBF and WBO title unification at 168lbs. The decision was split. One judge awarded the fight 96-93 to Marshall but America's Green was awarded the verdict 95-94 and 96-93 by the other judges despite a point deduction for holding. Ellie Scotney ended Mexican Yamileth Mercado's six-year reign as WBC super-bantamweight world champion with a comprehensive unanimous verdict. The 27-year-old from Catford added the WBC title to her IBF and WBO crowns with a 100-90, 98-82 and 98-82 decision win. England's Chantelle Cameron, a former two-weight world champion, had a comfortable unanimous points decision over Jessica Camara, while Ramla Ali returned to the ring after a year out with a tighter unanimous verdict over Lila Furtado. American Alycia Baumgardner retained her undisputed super-featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Spain's Jennifer Miranda.

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Martha Kelner, US correspondent
Jul 14
'It's a war': Meet the volunteers leading the fight against Trump's immigration raids

A woman is setting up a stand selling tacos on the pavement and the sun is beginning to rise behind the palm trees. A group of seven women and two men are gathered in a circle, most wearing khaki green T-shirts. The leader, a man named Francisco "Chavo" Romero, begins by asking how everyone is feeling. "Angry," a few of them respond. "Proud of the community for pushing back," says another. Ron, a high school history teacher, issues a rallying cry. "This is like Vietnam," he says. "We're taking losses, but in the end we're going to win. It's a war." This is what the resistance against Donald Trump's immigration policy looks like here. In the past month, immigration and customs enforcement agents - known as ICE - have intensified their raids on homes and workplaces across Los Angeles. Since the beginning of June, nearly 2,800 undocumented immigrants have been arrested in the city, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The previous monthly high was just over 850 arrests in May this year. Videos have circulated online of people being tackled to the ground in the car park of DIY shops, in car washes and outside homes. The videos have prompted outrage, protests and a fightback. "Chavo" and Ron belong to a group of organised volunteers called Union del Barrio. Every morning, a group of them meet, mostly in areas which have high immigrant populations. The day I meet them, they're in an area of LA which is heavily Latino. Armed with walkie talkies to communicate with each other, megaphones to warn the community and leaflets to raise awareness they set out in cars in different directions. They're looking for cars used by ICE agents to monitor "targets". "That vehicle looks a little suspicious," says Ron, pointing out a white SUV with blacked-out windows, "but there's nobody in it". An elderly Latino man is standing on a street corner, cutting fruit to sell at his stall. "He's the exact target that they're looking for," Ron says. "That's what they're doing now. The low-hanging fruit, the easy victim. And so that is proving to be more successful for their quotas." In the end, it turns out to be a quiet morning in this part of LA, no brewing immigration operations. But elsewhere in the city, dawn raids are happening. ICE agents are under pressure from the White House to boost their deportation numbers in line with Donald Trump's campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration. Maria's husband Javier was one of those arrested in LA. He came to the United States from Mexico when he was 19 and is now 58. The couple have three grown-up children and two grandchildren. But Javier's work permit expired two years ago, according to Maria and so he was living here illegally. She shows me a video taken last month when Javier was at work at a car wash in Pomona, an area of LA. He is being handcuffed and arrested by armed and masked ICE agents, forced into a car. He is now being held at a detention centre two hours away. "I know they're doing their job," she says, "but it's like, 'you don't have to do it like that.' Getting them and, you know, forcing people and pushing them down on the ground. They're not animals." Maria wipes away tears as she explains the impact of his absence for the past four weeks. "It's been so hard without him," she says. "You feel alone when you get used to somebody and he's not there any more. We've never been apart for as long as this." The family have a lawyer who is appealing for him to remain in the US, but Maria fears Javier will be sent back to Mexico or even a third country. "I don't know what to say to my grandkids because the oldest one, who is five was very attached to his papas, as he calls him. And he's asking me, 'When is papa coming home?' and I don't know what to say. He's not a criminal." The fear in immigrant communities can be measured by the empty restaurant booths and streets that are far quieter than usual. I meet Soledad at the Mexican restaurant she owns in Hollywood. When I arrive, she's watching the local news on the TV as yet another raid unfolds at a nearby farm. She's shaking her head as ICE agents face off with protesters and military helicopters hover overhead. "I am scared. I am very scared," she says. All of her eight employees are undocumented, and four of them are too scared to come into work, she says, in case they get arrested. The process to get papers, she says, is too long and too expensive. Read more from Sky News:Farmer first to die during ICE raidsTrump warns comic over citizenship "They call me and tell me they are too afraid to come in because immigration is around," she says. "I have to work double shifts to be able to make up for their hours, and yes, I am very desperate, and sometimes I cry... We have no sales, and no money to pay their wages." There is just one woman eating fajitas at a booth, where there would usually be a lunchtime rush. People are chilled by the raids. Soledad says she plans to hide her illegal workers if immigration officials arrive. "I've told them, get inside the fridge, hide behind the stove, climb up where we have a space to store boxes, do not run because they will hunt you down." The White House says they're protecting the country from criminals. ICE agents have been shot at while carrying out operations, their work becoming more dangerous by the day. The tension here is ratcheting up. Deportation numbers are rising too. But the order from Donald Trump is to arrest even more people living here illegally.

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No Writer
Jul 13
Man arrested for alleged sexual assault 'on set of EastEnders'

The alleged incident happened on the set of the BBC soap at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, according to The Sun newspaper. Hertfordshire Police confirmed a man in his 50s was arrested after the report in Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood, on 7 May. The man is accused of sexual assault and common assault in relation to two victims, the force said. The suspect is on bail while inquiries continue, police added. EastEnders said in a statement: "While we would never comment on individuals, EastEnders has on-site security and well-established procedures in place to safeguard the safety and welfare of everyone who works on the show."

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No Writer
Jul 14
Heidi Alexander says 'fairness' will be government's 'guiding principle' when it comes to taxes at next budget

Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was asked if Sir Keir Starmer and the rest of the cabinet had discussed hiking taxes in the wake of the government's failed welfare reforms, which were shot down by their own MPs. Trevor Phillips asked specifically if tax rises were discussed among the cabinet last week - including on an away day on Friday. Politics Hub: Catch up on the latest Tax increases were not discussed "directly", Ms Alexander said, but ministers were "cognisant" of the challenges facing them. Asked what this means, Ms Alexander added: "I think your viewers would be surprised if we didn't recognise that at the budget, the chancellor will need to look at the OBR forecast that is given to her and will make decisions in line with the fiscal rules that she has set out. "We made a commitment in our manifesto not to be putting up taxes on people on modest incomes, working people. We have stuck to that." Ms Alexander said she wouldn't comment directly on taxes and the budget at this point, adding: "So, the chancellor will set her budget. I'm not going to sit in a TV studio today and speculate on what the contents of that budget might be. "When it comes to taxation, fairness is going to be our guiding principle." Read more:Reeves won't rule out tax risesWhat is a wealth tax and how would it work? 👉Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne's on your podcast app👈       Afterwards, shadow home secretary Chris Philp told Phillips: "That sounds to me like a barely disguised reference to tax rises coming in the autumn." He then went on to repeat the Conservative attack lines that Labour are "crashing the economy". Mr Philp then attacked the prime minister as "weak" for being unable to get his welfare reforms through the Commons. Discussions about potential tax rises have come to the fore after the government had to gut its welfare reforms. Sir Keir had wanted to change Personal Independence Payments (PIP), but a large Labour rebellion forced him to axe the changes. With the savings from these proposed changes - around £5bn - already worked into the government's sums, they will now need to find the money somewhere else. The general belief is that this will take the form of tax rises, rather than spending cuts, with more money needed for military spending commitments, as well as other areas of priority for the government, such as the NHS.

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No Writer
Jul 12
Morgan Gibbs-White transfer news: Tottenham Hotspur move in jeopardy as Nottingham Forest consider legal action

Sky Sports News understands Forest have ceased all communication with Spurs as things stand. However, Tottenham are hopeful their deal for the England international will still be completed. Forest believe Spurs made an illegal approach to the player and never granted permission for them to speak to him. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Premier League ins and outsTottenham news & transfers⚪Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next seasonNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 Sky Sports News reported on Thursday that Tottenham had triggered a £60m release clause in his Forest contract. Forest believe there has also been a breach in confidentiality around his release clause because Tottenham's bid was pitched at exactly that level. It is not yet clear if Forest are able to block the transfer entirely. However, it is now expected to be delayed as Forest prepare a complaint to the Premier League. Forest have refused to comment on Sky Sports News' information. Spurs did not comment when contacted. Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from next season From next season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live. And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.

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