Foodies In The News

[Earthmaiden]

I mentioned yesterday that I felt that those older men suddenly accused of such misdemeanours should be judged by the standards (however low) of the times in which the accusations took place. However, I am familiar with acceptable workplace behaviour over the past 50 years and things did start to change after the millennium. I don't feel at the moment that GW molested adults or children but that his behaviour did overstep the boundaries of normal decency for a workplace and that his judgement was poor. A guy has to really be sure of his audience before running round dressed in a sock for instance.
I'm not fond of him but do feel a bit sorry as he seemed to have got his life together with the latest wife and his work but just didn't understand boundaries. I wonder if he can turn it round. I hope it doesn't transpire that he did nastier things.

[miss mouse]

I'm not fond of him but do feel a bit sorry as he seemed to have got his life together with the latest wife and his work but just didn't understand boundaries. I wonder if he can turn it round. I hope it doesn't transpire that he did nastier things.

Hmm. I suggest you read further.

[Earthmaiden]

Won't be reading more. What will be will be but I hope it doesn't go down very dark roads for the sake of any potential victims.

[Pepper Pig]

Like it or not these TV presenters should be seen as role models. Clearly many of them cross the line and are not. The BBC in particular have terrific form for ignoring the sexual and often violent antics of some of them. It is absolutely right that he should have been suspended. This is 2024. Women have been fighting for years to show up creeps like Gregg Wallace. And there are many more to be unveiled. I’m so pleased women are now believed when they speak out.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... show-women

[miss mouse]

Like it or not these TV presenters should be seen as role models.

Hmm. well... yes they should but sadly there seems to be a lot of sleaze. Who's surprised? Not me. As a colleague said eons ago in reference to Anthony Armstrong Jones and ten paces behind or maybe something else, it was a while ago 'They do it because they can' which is very reminiscent of Mandy Rice Davies quip.

[Pepper Pig]

But it’s not just the sleaze, it’s the BBC enabling and condoning it by turning a blind eye, and sadly it is still women not being listened to. If you read that Guardian article there are historic accusations against Gregg so why is it only now an issue? I think the Jay Blades allegations are slightly different as people aren’t jumping out of the woodwork and saying Me too.

The overarching point is why is it taking so long to bring these people to justice? Huw Edwards for example. And as for Jimmy Saville, Rolf Harris etc don’t get me started. But it still boils down to accused people (men usually) not being suspended immediately there has been an allegation.

[Stokey Sue]

Quite agree PP - also that Jay Blades is different, he appears to be perfectly acceptable as a colleague, unless, perhaps, you are in a close relationship with him

Gregg feels a bit like a halfway stage - he has been carpeted, and it hasn't affected his behaviour (as far as we know of course) but how long was he allowed to go on failing to reform, after he was carpeted?

[miss mouse]

But it’s not just the sleaze, it’s the BBC enabling and condoning it by turning a blind eye,

it is an external organisation which makes the stuff. The Beebs just buys it. I can't remember the name of the production Co. it's the same as 'buying a film'. Interesting Q though.

[Suffs]

Role models … really? TV presenters are role models for adults?! Since when?

I get that perhaps Blue Peter presenters etc ought to be aware of their influence on children but I really don’t get the idea of role models for adults. Goodness gracious … I’ve heard folk speak of the infantilisation of the British public in recent years but really? Are we suggesting that only folk with behaviour deemed acceptable by some committee should be allowed to work in broadcasting? Where will it end? That’s a very worrying road and one down which I do not wish to travel.

I ought to point out that I’m not condoning unpleasant or unacceptable behaviour … and poor treatment of colleagues is certainly an HR/Personnel matter … but I do think that adults, particularly those who have status within the industry such as Kirsty Wark, should be more forthright at the time about not accepting poor treatment … a total refusal to work with GW without a personnel manager being on site would’ve focussed management’s minds. You can only be a doormat if you lay on the ground and let people walk on you.

Not only has GW gone down in my estimation … Kirsty Wark has also.

[Badger's Mate]

It was a committee, and not the BBC, who gave Jimmy Saville his Knighthood. There is a political movement that takes every opportunity to criticise the BBC when they are by no means alone in failing to spot and act on allegations of wrongdoing.

[miss mouse]

You can only be a doormat if you lay on the ground and let people walk on you.

That's unfair to those who are less robust or need the job or a whole host of other things. Male behaviour such as GW's should not be tolerated by anyone or have to be endured.

Not only has GW gone down in my estimation … Kirsty Wark has also

I and it seems most people cannot abide him, you are the first one I've heard of liking him :shock:

Do we Kirsty Wark didn't complain about him?

[Suffs]

I’m not the one being unfair … the women who are being unfair are the ones who have status within the industry and don’t raise an unholy stink about inappropte bullying behaviour when they have the chance rather than ‘me too-ing’ some years later. They’re the ones who should be saying to themselves that they have a responsibility to those ‘who are less robust …’.
The programme Kirsty Wark is complaining about now is called ‘Celebrity Masterchef’ those contestants are chosen because they have a degree of status … and with status comes power.
If, halfway through filming, they were to refuse to continue without a management chaperone you can be assured that one would be provided and GW would have to moderate his behaviour …. the cost of abandoning a shoot
pls the negative publicity would be so high it would never be allowed to happen again.

And I’ve never ever said that I like him … I don’t … but I do know quite a few men with working class roots
who are like him … fortunately for them they have friends and family who don’t hesitate to warn them when their behaviour oversteps the currently applicable mark. GW seems to be surrounded by folk who are prepared to put up with poor treatment rather than do something that might be seen as ‘trouble making’. There’s a lot of hypocrisy about … there’s more to being a ‘cheery Cockney greengrocer’ than a cheeky grin and an accent … leaving school at 15 and mixing with other less well educated folk at a formative time is a major part of it.
John Torode is now saying ‘we were never friends’ … possibly true … but he was GW’s best man at his most recent wedding … did I mention hypocrisy ?!

[Pepper Pig]

The chaperone thing is pretty new Suffs and has arisen from programmes like Strictly which my niece works on. She’s full of stories about nasty incidents, mainly sleazeball men and difficult women and she’s only done it since Covid. One particular male comedian is well known for his lewd remarks and behaviour but nothing was done. The girls on the production team had to make sure they were never left alone with him. The production company weren’t interested. They have had to be since the Amanda Abbington thing blew up. I’m pretty sure that particular man will not work for the BBC again but you can be sure he’ll pop up somewhere.

I’m not defending the BBC BM but they knew about Saville, Harris and Stuart Hall. They kept employing them and turned a blind eye. They also knew about Russell Brand. It’s well documented. I’m with Kirsty Wark. Call out this behaviour.

I didn’t mean adults need role models Suffs but young people do. Fortunately the BBC doesn’t produce very much that would attract them as viewers.

[WWordsworth]

Anyone who's been married 4 times, 2 of the marriages lasting only a year, should be a red flag.

I worked with a bloke whose 3rd wife has recently left him.
He was sleazy.

[Pepper Pig]

This is exactly what I mean.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radi ... -presenter

[Pepper Pig]

Tomato paste.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crezlw4y152o

[Earthmaiden]

Disappointing. A lot of issues here .

[Stokey Sue]

That’s shocking

One sentence leapt out at me China grows about a third of the world’s tomatoes - who knew?

I looked at my tube, which is Lidl Baresa, mine is packed for Lidl UK but the survey looked at a sample from Germany. It says quite clearly that it is packed in the EU from EU and non-EU tomatoes. Italian is not mentioned. I’d be be fine with that if the article didn’t mention Uighur forced Labour. Maybe I’ll look for a Turkish brand.

[miss mouse]

One sentence leapt out at me China grows about a third of the world’s tomatoes :o - who knew?

i didn't.

[KeenCook]

How sad. Times are certainly changing, what with the congestion charge, ULEZ etc, farm shops and supermarkets. Those currently working there obviously think that a centre at somewhere like Dagenham would be worth it - but it might be inconvenient for those coming a long way from most directions. Will be interesting to see what happens.
My great aunt was a secretary there - she would find it unthinkable!

The ubiquitous petition has just dropped into my inbox, predictably save smithfield market ...