Gregg Wallace has finally spoken out following his shocking dismissal from the BBC, firmly denying the worst of the allegations made against him.
The former MasterChef host, 60, was sacked after an internal investigation found 45 out of 83 complaints to be substantiated — including claims of inappropriate sexual language, crude humour, and one incident of “unwelcome physical contact.”
But in an emotional interview with The Sun, Gregg pushed back on public perception, saying:
“I’m not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher. I’m not saying I’m not guilty of stuff, but so much has been perceived incorrectly. Things that really hurt me and hurt my family.”
He continued:
“People think I’ve been taking my trousers down and exposing myself — I’m not a flasher. People think I’m a sex pest. I am not. I am not sexist or a misogynist or any of it. There never were any allegations of sexual harassment.”
Gregg admitted his past behaviour may have been shaped by the culture around him but argued that it’s been misunderstood.
He also came to the defence of his long-time co-host John Torode, who was also dropped by the BBC after being linked to a separate allegation involving the use of a racist term in the workplace.
John, 60, later took to Instagram, identifying himself “for the sake of transparency”, though he insisted he has “no recollection” of using racist language and denied being a racist. Gregg backed his colleague, saying simply:
“He’s not a racist.”
Despite the controversy, the BBC has confirmed it will air the final season of MasterChef featuring both Gregg and John — filmed in 2024 — starting August 6. The decision was made “out of respect for the contestants” who had invested their time and effort into the competition.
As the dust settles, Wallace’s reputation and the legacy of one of Britain’s most popular cooking shows now hang in the balance.
