Gregg Wallace has spoken out in a fiery statement following a comprehensive nine-month investigation into allegations of misconduct. The inquiry examined various claims made against the former MasterChef star, with Wallace claiming he has been “exonerated” of the most severe accusations, including those related to groping.

Wallace posted a statement on Instagram today, claiming: “I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report—a decision I do not take lightly. But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.

“The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.”

The report is not officially due out until Thursday, and the BBC said in a statement: “Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.”

Banijay UK has declined to comment on Wallace’s comments, and the report’s outcome is uncertain at this moment.

Meanwhile, a source told The Sun: “Gregg is both furious and devastated about how things have played out.

“His team have seen the report and believe he is cleared of the most serious wrongdoing allegations, so he has taken great consolation from that.

“Whilst he is not excusing his inappropriate comments and innuendos – some of which he has been found against – on his recent autism diagnosis, this has been a mitigating factor.

“He has also been cleared of some of the higher profile allegations, including those brought on by Penny Lancaster and Kirsty Wark, but the BBC has made it clear there is no way back for him. He is devastated.”

A total of 30 complaints had been lodged against a television presenter, who responded on Instagram by criticising the accusers as “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.

In response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the presenter’s remarks as “completely inappropriate and misogynistic”.

The presenter later participated in an interview where he addressed the allegations and explained he had received an autism diagnosis.

He said: “Some of what’s been said [claims made against him] sounds like the sort of comments I’d have made. I want to make it absolutely clear I’m not blaming my behaviour on my diagnosis, but it does explain a hell of a lot to me.

“Although I’m still trying to compute why, if my persona on the telly was p***ing so many people off for all those years, nobody told me at the time.”