The BBC is facing a mutiny from its own staff after it emerged that bosses knew of allegations against Gregg Wallace as far back as 2012.
Furious BBC insiders have suggested that senior staff could have more forcefully intervened after receiving complaints about the MasterChef star's behaviour, despite the show being made by the independent production company Banijay.
Staff have raised concerns that the BBC seeks to "manage risk" rather than deal with reported problems, which leads to "monumental f--- ups" that damage the broadcaster's reputation.
Former Celebrity MasterChef contestants have said they complained about Wallace's alleged behaviour as long as 12 years ago.
Actress Emma Kennedy, 57, who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2012, claimed she had seen the presenter "grope" a camera assistant during a photo shoot that same year.
Subsequently, in 2017, another former contestant, Aasmah Mir, 53, told Kate Phillips, the director of "unscripted" television, that Wallace had made sexist comments during filming.
Despite concerns being raised, Wallace remained on the show until last week, when he "stepped away" from MasterChef when it emerged that numerous former contestants had made complaints about inappropriate behaviour.
One source said: "The issue is whether they have the will to pull them up on their behaviour and whether there's ever any will in these cases, where there's big name talent or senior leaders involved."
Another added: "The priority is always to protect those most important to them."
Insiders have questioned the alleged inaction of BBC bosses, particularly as Wallace left the BBC 2 show Inside the Factory in 2023 following claims he made "inappropriate comments".
Sources have raised concerns that Ms Phillips' "unscripted" department which handles MasterChef also deals with Strictly Come Dancing, which was rocked this year by claims of "nasty" behaviour in rehearsals.
It has been claimed that the BBC has a habit of allowing potential problems to fester and that the allegations against Wallace, 60, were an open secret.
The Times reported that one complaint was made by Ms Mir in 2017 when she emailed BBC executive Ms Phillips about an alleged incident during which she claimed Wallace called a friend of hers a "sexy bitch".
Ms Mir claimed that this was done "brazenly in front of everybody".
Ms Phillips reportedly responded by saying that the comments were "unacceptable" and stated that it had been logged and that she would be informed of any future incidents.
Wallace retained his role, contracted to Masterchef producers Banijay, a company independent of the BBC, which last week launched an investigation into the allegations against him.
The BBC has said complaints it received prompted the Banijay investigation.
While the BBC does not produce the show, insiders have suggested that as its commissioner it could have done more to act on allegations.
Concerns have been shared by Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, who expects MPs on the influential committee to ask tough questions of BBC executives.
She said: "BBC bosses appear in front of us on a regular basis and at the next opportunity I'm sure members will want to raise the issue of the BBC complaints process and whether it's protecting the staff who work there or on its behalf."
Labour MP and DCMS Committee member Paul Waugh also wants answers about complaints procedures at the broadcaster, saying: "Both BBC staff and the wider public will want to know whether the Corporation's processes are fit for purpose.
"And I hope the director-general will have some answers when he's next before the Committee."
While answers are being sought regarding the allegations and the implications of the BBC's complaints processes, the broadcaster continues to provide a platform for Wallace's work
The complete set of MasterChef series is available on iPlayer, and two Christmas specials will be shown despite the ongoing controversy.
Wallace's lawyers have stated that it is "entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature".
The BBC has previously stated that "it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us - not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken".
A BBC spokesman 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.
"Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay's ongoing investigation or otherwise influence it."