Gregg Wallace was warned six years ago by the BBC that he would be sacked if he continued to behave inappropriately, it was reported last night.

A BBC executive wrote to the MasterChef presenter, 60, in 2019 following complaints and he was told the corporation would cut ties with him if it learnt of further allegations, it was claimed.

But upon hearing further claims about Wallace’s inappropriate behaviour, the BBC did not follow through, The Daily Telegraph reported.

It emerged this week that Wallace has been banned from working at the BBC after executives decided they were not confident that he could change his behaviour.

But in 2019 Kate Phillips – then director of unscripted television and now chief content officer – issued an official warning to Wallace about his behaviour.

‘The BBC will not tolerate behaviour to occur on any productions that is inappropriate, unprofessional and/or has the effect on individuals to feel sexually harassed,’ she wrote.

‘It would be regrettable and disappointing to learn of any further incidents. In such circumstances the BBC would need to seriously consider its future working relationship with you.’

An independent report by Lewis Silkins, which was commissioned by MasterChef producers Banijay in November after initial allegations against Wallace, is yet to be published.

Wallace insists he has been cleared of the most serious allegations of groping but it is understood he was found to have made repeated inappropriate comments.

He came out earlier this week to defend himself and recognised ‘that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate’ for which he apologised for ‘without reservation’.

The dismissal letter from the BBC, first obtained by The Telegraph, noted ‘you were a presenter on a flagship BBC show’ and ‘the impact that your comments had on the BBC’s reputation’.

The letter, from Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC Television, adds: ‘I have also taken into account whether your behaviour could be improved with training and/or coaching.

‘However, I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the working environment.

‘I also have to consider the fact that various people in the BBC have spoken to you about your behaviour over the course of your career, and that you also received training/coaching in 2019.’

A BBC spokesman said: ‘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.’