MasterChef Host Gregg Wallace Lashes Out at Celebrities Over Allegations
A serious investigation is underway by Banijay UK, the production company behind the popular BBC show MasterChef, into allegations of "lewd and inappropriate" behaviour made against host Gregg Wallace. The 60-year-old presenter has strongly denied the claims, which were made by several high-profile celebrities, including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, 70, and broadcasters Vanessa Feltz, 63, and Kirstie Allsopp, 53.
According to The Sun, which first reported the allegations, Gregg faced complaints from Kirsty Wark, who accused him of telling "sexualised" jokes as they filmed Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. As The Sun reported, other broadcasters, including Vanessa Feltz and Kirstie Allsopp, also made complaints against Gregg. The allegations have left Gregg feeling "devastated" and "betrayed" by his former colleagues.
In an exclusive interview with Mail+, Gregg hit out at the women who made allegations against him, expressing his shock and disappointment at their claims. He said of Kirsty: "I thought we got on. She made it to the final three, so we were together for three months. I can clearly remember drinking champagne with her at the end of the show and sharing jokes." Gregg added that he had no idea what Kirsty’s complaint was about, saying: "I hadn’t seen the complaint so I didn’t know what it was. I thought, ‘What have I done?’ I literally didn’t understand it."
Gregg also lashed out at Vanessa Feltz, who allegedly made a complaint about a story she had heard from a friend about something Gregg had supposedly said in a lift. As The Sun reported, Gregg insisted that he had always got on well with Vanessa and had even appeared on her show. He said: "Vanessa Feltz really knocked me for six. She had a story from a friend of hers who said she’d overheard me saying something sexual in a lift. I’ve always got on well with Vanessa. I’ve been on her show. We even swapped messages on social media." Gregg expressed his disappointment at Vanessa’s allegations, saying: "I’m thinking, ‘Really, Vanessa, you’re weighing in with something someone else told you that I was supposed to have said in a lift? I thought you liked me’."
The allegations against Gregg have had a significant impact on his mental health, with The Sun reporting that he was diagnosed with profound autism after a mental health screening arranged by Banijay UK. Gregg admitted that he had thought about suicide "all the time" after the historic allegations were made. He has since received support from a crisis mentor.
The investigation into the allegations against Gregg is ongoing, with results set to be revealed next month. As The Sun reported, Gregg was accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues, including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark – accusations he strongly denies.
In a further twist, The Sun has learned that Gregg also slammed Kirstie Allsopp over her allegations against him. As the news provider reported, Kirstie had allegedly claimed that Gregg had made her feel uncomfortable on set.
The allegations against Gregg have sent shockwaves through the broadcasting industry, with many of his colleagues expressing their support for him. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what the outcome will be for the beloved MasterChef host.
This is a developing story, and The Sun will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Source: The Sun – MasterChef host Gregg Wallace furiously lashes out at celebrities over allegations.
