Gregg Wallace discontinues data claim against BBC

Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has abandoned his legal claim against the BBC and will not be receiving any payment in costs or damages.

Wallace had been seeking up to £10,000 in damages from the BBC, but court documents state the claim against the BBC and BBC Studios has been "discontinued".

The former presenter had claimed the broadcaster caused him "distress and harassment" by failing to comply with a request for copies of his personal data.

Wallace was taking legal action against the BBC and BBC Studios after being sacked from the cooking show in July.

His dismissal followed a report that upheld more than 40 allegations about his conduct on MasterChef, including one of unwelcome physical contact and three of being in a state of undress.

Wallace previously said he was "deeply sorry for any distress" he caused and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate".

The BBC had said Gregg Wallace was not "entitled to any damages", in response to his legal claim.

In its defence filed at the High Court in October, the BBC said it denied that he "has suffered any distress or harassment" as a result of its responses to his requests.

It also argued that Wallace pursued his claim without giving it prior notice, and added that the BBC provided him with a copy of the personal data to which it says he was entitled on 7 October.

On Friday, the BBC said: "Shortly in advance of a hearing (due 16 February), Mr Wallace discontinued his claim. He is not receiving any payment in costs or damages from either BBC or BBC Studios."

Wallace's representatives have been approached for a comment.

BBC News is editorially independent from the wider corporation.

Greg Wallace hosted MasterChef for 20 years, but stepped away from presenting the show last year after facing a string of misconduct claims, first revealed by BBC News.

The show's production company Banijay ordered an inquiry, which heard 83 allegations against the TV presenter.

Of those, 45 were upheld, including one of unwelcome physical contact and three of being in a state of undress. Most related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, and also culturally insensitive or racist comments.

In response, he said he was "deeply sorry for any distress" he caused and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate", but that "none of the serious allegations against me were upheld".

A separate claim that his co-host John Torode had used a severely offensive racist term was also substantiated. Torode has said he has "no recollection" of the incident.

Both presenters were sacked in July.

In September, it was revealed that food critic Grace Dent and chef Anna Haugh are the new hosts of MasterChef.