Gregg Wallace's complicated love life, stripping naked on Masterchef set and dressing down by singer
MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has stepped away from the popular BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated. It has been announced that the 60-year-old is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual remarks from 13 individuals across various shows over a span of 17 years.
An investigation by the BBC itself found complaints had been lodged by former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who claimed that he made jokes of a "sexualised nature" when she was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She claimed Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a "sexualised nature" on two occasions in front of contestants and crew, and she felt they were "really, really in the wrong place".
BBC News reported that it had been informed of other allegations, including the host "talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans". For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter
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Wallace is also alleged to have once walked into the MasterChef studio “completely naked except for [a] sock pulled over his penis” before doing a “silly dance”. The complaint also claims that he was “very touchy feely” and made “disgusting sex-related jokes”.
Amid the fallout, Sir Rod Stewart accused him of being a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” for “humiliating” his wife, Penny Lancaster, when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef.
Gregg Wallace's lawyers have issued a strong denial, saying it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. Masterchef's production company Banijay UK has launched an investigation and said Wallace is co-operating.
Wallace is widely recognised for co-hosting MasterChef with John Torode since 2005, and its spin-offs, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, will continue to appear on our screens. He launched his television career as the original host of Saturday Kitchen back in 2002, and has also been a familiar face on programmes such as Eat Well For Less, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest and Supermarket Secrets. His contributions to food and charity earned him an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2022.
The TV chef's stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 saw him dancing alongside Aliona Vilani. Off-screen, Wallace has two children, Tom and Libby, from a previous relationship, and is married to Anne-Marie Sterpini, with whom he shares a son named Sid.
In an Instagram post on Thursday evening, Wallace told his followers: "I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. It's good of you, thank you very much."
On Thursday, it emerged that Wallace had pledged to fully co-operate with an external review initiated by MasterChef's production company, Banijay UK. A statement released confirmed: "This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.
"Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
"Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately. If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence."
In addition, a BBC spokesperson said: "We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them."
Wallace has often hit the headlines over his love life and has spoken candidly about his relationships over the years. He has spoken about life with his fourth wife, Anne-Marie, and their son Sid, after a lengthy journey to conceive. He endured a short-lived union with his third spouse Heidi, which he previously branded a 'huge mistake'.
His fellow judge John Torode has said in the past that despite presenting together for more than two decades they have "never been friends". You can read more about that here. Even when the pair – arguably one of TV’s most famous duos – film in far-flung and exotic places, they preferred to keep their distance, the Sunday Mirror revealed in 2017. Torode told the paper: "We’ve never been friends."
He described his colleague as "so OCD" at the time, adding: "It’s funny, we’ve never been friends. We’ve not been to each other’s houses… He’s so OCD, he wouldn’t know what to do. He’d build it up in his mind for three days, and probably make himself quite sick, then he’d have an argument with his wife and not turn up. If I went to his house, he would feel like he wasn’t in control."
