Wait, could Gregg Wallace’s MBE get taken away because of the new allegations?

Pretty much every hour, another allegation is made about Gregg Wallace’s past behaviour on MasterChef. According to the BBC, 13 different people who have worked with Gregg Wallace on previous TV shows have accused him of making “sexualised” and “unacceptable” comments. Gregg Wallace’s lawyers have denied these claims. He is co-operating with the investigation.

Gregg Wallace was actually made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022 because of his services to food, charity and broadcasting. So, what could happen to Gregg Wallace’s MBE?

Can you take an MBE away?

Basically, yes. We contacted the part of the government which deals with the honours list, and they stressed that there is a Forfeiture Committee who decides what to do when someone with an MBE has behaved badly.

Taking away an MBE, OBE or any other kind of honour is called “forfeiture”. The committee and the Sovereign both have to agree to the honour being removed. So, in theory King Charles III would have to weigh in on whether Gregg Wallace should have an MBE.

What would have to happen for the government to forfeit someone’s MBE?

The government website lists the sort of circumstances which could cause them to take away an MBE. This includes “being found guilty of a criminal offence, behaviour which results in censure by a regulatory or a professional body, or any other behaviour that is deemed to bring the honours system into disrepute”. The page emphasises that sexual offences would be a reason to take away an MBE. The committee can get rid of an MBE based on events which happened before or after they gave the person the honour.

People have had MBEs taken away in the past if they “bring the honours system into disrepute”.

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In February, the Forfiet Committee took away a CBE from Paula Vennells (the former CEO of the Post Office) and an MBE from the musician Wiley for “bringing the honours system into disrepute”.

What is happening next with the investigation into Gregg Wallace?

Gregg Wallace in Inside The Factory
(Image via BBC)

Gregg Wallace is not facing any criminal charges. The production company behind MasterChef is looking into his past behaviour on different TV shows. He’s stepped down from presenting MasterChef until the investigation is concluded. The charity Ambitious about Autism has announced they’re no longer going to work with him.

The BBC said, “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.”

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Featured image via the BBC.