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Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is facing allegations of ‘inappropriate sexual comments’ , and viewers of MasterChef: The Professionals have taken to social media to share their opinions as the series continues tonight. Fans of the cooking series thought the show might be postponed after the allegations hit headlines on Thursday (28 November). However the BBC confirmed the series would be going ahead in its regular slot. During a news update on BBC Radio 4 this evening, listeners were informed: "The BBC has confirmed tonight's episode of MasterChef will still be shown on BBC One." Viewers took to social media to express what they thought about the show continuing. One viewer wrote: “Glad that the BBC is going to continue to air the remaining #Masterchef professional series. Some great talented chefs that deserve their cooking to be seen.” Another added: “Re #bbc considering postponing #Masterchef cos #Greggwallace is on........... most of us watch for the contestants and their efforts. The presenters are secondary. It's all about the contestants and audience.” A third agreed: “The @BBCNews shouldn't pull the current series of @MasterChefUK It's not the contestants' fault, they shouldn't be punished. They've been punished enough working with @GreggAWallace We viewers are invested & deserve to see the end.” Last week, Gregg declared he would be taking a break from his role on MasterChef following the emergence of historical allegations against him. Gregg, who has presented the series with John Torode since 2005, has previously hit out at allegations surrounding his conduct. The 60-year-old said yesterday (Sunday, 1 December) that a string of accusations relating to his behaviour on the show had come from a "handful of middle-class women of a certain age". The BBC star has denied behaviour of a sexually harassing nature after 13 people came forward last week with allegations of inappropriate comments. Posting on Instagram this afternoon (Monday, 2 December) , he seemed visibly emotional as he said: "I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset that I may have caused to a lot of people. "I wasn't in a good headspace when I posted it, I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it. It's obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway. I hope you understand, and I do hope you will accept this apology." About the complaints made against him, Gregg’s lawyer has firmly stated: "It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature"Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record
Dublin: Vote counting in Ireland's general election began Saturday with an exit poll indicating a tight finish with the incumbent centre-right coalition most likely to form the next government. After voting concluded Friday, the exit poll indicated that the leftist-nationalist Sinn Fein, the main opposition party, narrowly led with 21.1 percent of the vote. But neck and neck on 21.0 percent was the centre-right Fine Gael whose leader is the outgoing prime minister Simon Harris. Fine Gael's centre-right partner in the outgoing coalition -- Fianna Fail, led by deputy prime minister Micheal Martin -- were slightly further back in third with 19.5 percent. "Forming a government will depend on two of the three being able to cooperate with one another," Lisa Keenan, a political scientist at Trinity College Dublin, told AFP. But Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are "in the driving seat to reestablish coalition" in the new 174-seat lower chamber of parliament, said the Irish Times newspaper. During the campaign both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael ruled out entering coalition with Sinn Fein, who also prioritise Irish unification. "Sinn Fein could well finish first in the popular vote for the second time in a row, but face another five years in opposition," said the paper. - Horse-trading ahead -At the last general election in 2020, Sinn Fein -- the former political wing of the paramilitary Irish Republican Army -- won the largest vote share but could not find willing coalition partners. That led to weeks of horsetrading, ending up with Fine Gael, which has been in power since 2011, agreeing a deal with Fianna Fail. Partial results are expected throughout Saturday, while a final result may not be clear for days. During the last parliamentary term, the role of prime minister rotated between the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael leaders. The smaller Green Party made up the governing coalition. EU member Ireland's proportional representation system sees votes of eliminated candidates redistributed during multiple rounds of counting. While the exit poll suggests Fine Gael and Fianna Fail's performance is down on the last election, "their supporters are increasingly willing to transfer from one to the other," as the count rounds progress, Keenan told AFP. Smaller opposition parties including the Social Democrats, and Labour would be in the mix for coalition talks after the final result according to analysts. Non-aligned independent candidates could also play a role in the next government if sought by the frontrunner parties to make up an 88-seat majority in the Dail. The three-week campaign, launched after Harris called a snap election November 8, was marked by rancour over housing and cost-of-living crises, public spending and immigration. Harris, who became Ireland's youngest-ever taoiseach (prime minister) when he took over in April, held a solid lead entering the campaign. But the party lost ground, in particular after Harris was seen in a viral clip appearing rude and dismissive to a care worker on the campaign trail. Both centre-right parties stressed their pro-business and pro-EU credentials and said returning them to power would ensure stability, particularly with turmoil abroad and the risk of external shocks. Ireland's high-growth economy depends on foreign direct investment and lavish corporate tax returns from mainly US tech and pharma giants, and would suffer if incoming US president Donald Trump follows through on pledges to slap tariffs on imports and repatriate corporate tax of US firms. The exit poll revealed "no enthusiasm for the government, despite the buoyant economy," Eoin O'Malley, a political scientist at Dublin City University, told AFP. "But neither is there any enthusiasm for the opposition parties," he said. Mary Lou McDonald's Sinn Fein saw a dip in support among its working class base in the past year because of its progressive stance on social issues and migration policy, as immigration became a key election issue. But it rallied on the back of a campaign heavily focused on housing policy and claimed it is the only alternative to Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which have swapped power since Irish independence from Britain in 1921.
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