Melanie Sykes says Gregg Wallace was the reason she quit TV as she brands MasterChef 'unprofessional'
Melanie Sykes has become the latest celebrity to speak out against Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace, who has stepped down from the culinary show amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which he denies. TV and radio presenter Melanie appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 and has claimed she made an informal complaint about his behaviour on the show, reports The Telegraph.
In her autobiography, Illuminated, which was published last year, she wrote that the behaviour on Masterchef was 'jaw-dropping', sharing: "The MasterChef experience continued to be an eye-opener, and some unprofessional behaviour on set was jaw-dropping." Expanding on her comments via her YouTube this week, Melanie said: "Every time Gregg came over to the desk, I didn't really like him being around really because it's all about vibrations and energy".
In the caption of her YouTube video, Melanie appeared to hit out at the BBC as she wrote: "If Production Companies and channels facilitate unprofessionalism ie ignore it, they too are a massive part of the problem."
READ MORE: Gregg Wallace faces fresh allegations as 4 women claim he touched them inappropriately
She also wrote in her book that the Gregg was instrumental in her decision to step back from the small screen, after he allegedly told her the show would 'do a lot' for her. "I didn't know what to say, so I smiled and said yes, but I was really thinking, 'Yes, you have finally helped me decide to end my television career once and for all'," she wrote.
Melanie joins stars such as Ulrika Jonsson and Kirstie Allsopp who have spoken out about their experiences with Gregg this week, while 13 people have made the allegations, which are being investigated.
After downplaying the complaints against him over the weekend, Gregg has now issued a formal apology. He had previously claimed that the complaints about his behaviour came from "a handful of middle-class women of a certain age".
On Monday (2 December), he posted a video on his Instagram stories to apologise, saying: "I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset 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 under way. I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology."
