Tuesday’s tabloids continue coverage of the Gregg Wallace scandal – reporting that he has since apologised for his comments that his accusers are just “middle-class women of a certain age”. Several papers report MPs want a cultural change at the BBC, noting this is another in a string of allegations made against a BBC presenter, whilst other headlines reflect news that the BBC will continue to air his show MasterChef, despite the growing list of accusations. 

The prime minister’s foreign policy speech at the Lord Mayor’s banquet on Monday has provoked contrasting reactions from the press. 

International news also finds a place on the UK front pages this morning. 

Donald Trump has threatened to release and pardon January 6 rioters, in response to Joe Biden issuing a ‘full and unconditional’ pardon to his son Hunter Biden. 

There are fears that the French government is about to collapse after the French prime minister pushed through his ‘austerity’ budget. 

The latest Premier League gossip dominates the back pages. 

‘BBC won’t pull Gregg Wallace show’

‘BBC refuses to pull hit show in wake of accusations,’ The Guardian says.

The Guardian reports that the BBC refuses to pull the hit show MasterChef despite the accusations facing the host Gregg Wallace. In its editorial, the paper says “By drawing attention to the troubling behaviour of a male celebrity, Kirsty Wark recalls the spirit of #MeToo.” 

‘Melanie Sykes says Gregg Wallace was the reason she quit her TV career,’ says the Mail.

The Daily Mail says BBC bosses are refusing to take ‘misogynist’ Gregg Wallace off the air. The paper says Melanie Sykes has revealed that spending time with Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 was the reason she walked away from her television career. 

‘MPs want a cultural change at the BBC,’ says The Sun.

The Sun says BBC bosses have “defied MPs by airing an episode of MasterChef” featuring Wallace on Monday as well as declining to pull Christmas episodes. The paper says MPs want the programme taken off TV and reports “senior politicians” describe the broadcaster as needing “wholesale cultural change.” 

‘Wallace apologises for middle-class women of a certain age comments,’ reports the Mirror.

The Daily Mirror highlights Wallace’s apology in its headline and reports the TV presenter issued his apology after he branded his accusers “middle-class women of a certain age.” 

‘No 10 accused Wallace of misogyny as pressure mounts on BBC,’ The Independent says.

The Independent says “Wallace forced to eat humble pie – so will BBC cancel hit show?” – the paper notes he apologies for his attack on ‘middle-class women of a certain age’ after No 10 accused him of misogyny. The paper says there is pressure on the BBC to stop broadcasting the show “to avoid triggering those who called out his inappropriate behaviour.” 

‘Wallace under siege as co-stars fail to show him support,’ reports the Express.

The Daily Express has a different take. The paper describes him as being “under siege.” The paper notes Wallace “unfollowed his MasterChef co-star John Torode and his wife Lisa Faulkner on Instagram after they failed to show public support for the BBC star.”

‘PM won’t choose between EU and US’

‘PM will invest more deeply in links with Washington,’ says The Times.

The Times leads on the prime minister’s comments about the UK’s relationship with the US ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The paper says the PM will invest “more deeply than ever” in links with Washington. In his foreign policy speech on Monday, the prime minister also warned Russia poses a “near and present danger” to allies in the West, the paper adds. 

‘PM won’t choose between EU and US,’ reports the Telegraph.

The Daily Telegraph also reports on the prime minister’s speech. The paper focuses on PM Starmer’s pledge not to side with Trump over the EU. The paper says the PM told the audience it was “plain wrong” to suggest his presence in the White House would mean the UK had to get closer to the US than Europe.

‘Rutte warns Trump that the US face dire threat from China if Ukraine pushed to sign peace deal,’ reports the FT.

The FT reports that Nato’s new chief has warned the incoming US president that the US faces a “dire threat from China, Iran and North Korea should Ukraine be pushed to sign a favourable peace deal with Russia. In an interview with the paper, Mark Rutte says has “made a pitch to the president-elect to stick with Nato” and keep supporting Kyiv.

‘French government on brink of collapse’

‘Barnier told MP they face a moment of truth,’ claims The Independent.

The Independent says the French government is on the brink of collapse as PM Barnier pushes through an austerity budget. Michel Barnier told MPs they must face a ‘moment of truth’ after both the left and the far right lodge motions to bring down the government.

‘Barnier faces no-confidence vote,’ says the Telegraph.

The Daily Telegraph also notes the French government is on the verge of collapse. The paper says PM Michel Barnier has pushed through his austerity measures using his presidential decree, prompting opposition parties to file motions of no-confidence. 

‘France latest European government to stand on brink of collapse,’ says the FT.

The FT says the French premier has defended his budget at the National Assembly in Paris after his administration “became the latest European government to stand on the brink of collapse.”