Gregg Wallace's response to misconduct allegations on MasterChef and other BBC shows has been described as "inappropriate and misogynistic" by Downing Street.
It has also confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of the row about his behaviour.
Wallace, 60, has denied behaviour of a sexually harassing nature after 13 people came forward last week with allegations of inappropriate comments.
He has stepped down from his role as a presenter on MasterChef as a result, while the allegations are being investigated.
On Sunday (December 1) Wallace said accusations relating to his behaviour on the show had come from a "handful of middle-class women of a certain age," BBC News reports.
In a video posted on Instagram, he said there had been "13 complaints" from "over 4,000 contestants" he had worked with in 20 years on the BBC One show.
His response was criticised by his accusers, one of whom said the comments showed he "clearly hasn't learnt his lesson".
Alongside this, there have been calls to pause the broadcast of MasterChef while investigations are being conducted.
The next episode of MasterChef: The Professionals is scheduled to air at 9pm on BBC One today (Monday, December 2).
It will be the 16th episode of the 21 which have been recorded for the current series.
Rupa Huq MP, who is a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee and said the continued broadcast of MasterChef could be "triggering" for the women involved.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today, she said: "I think possibly there is an argument for pausing while this investigation takes its course, and maybe not airing it tonight."
Recommended Reading:
- Gregg Wallace steps down from MasterChef as BBC investigates misconduct allegations
- Rod Stewart calls Gregg Wallace a 'tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully'
- Gregg Wallace says complaints about him are from 'middle-class women of certain age'
Huq, the sister of TV presenter Konnie, acknowledged that Wallace had stepped back from presenting the show, but noted the pre-recorded episodes are still scheduled to air.
"To the casual viewer, there's not going to be any difference," she said. "If it's on TV tonight, it looks like he sort of got away with it, and I think the BBC should send a strong signal [about] this sort of behaviour."
She added: "We need to let the investigation do its work, but at the same time, if he's being dangled on our screens while this is going on, I just think at the moment maybe pause it."
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