Gregg Wallace dropped by charity after he quits MasterChef amid probe into ‘inappropriate comments’
GREGG Wallace has been dropped by an autism charity after he was accused of making a series of inappropriate comments.
The former MasterChef star, 60, was announced as an ambassador for Ambitious about Autism two years ago after his son Sid was diagnosed with the condition.
But, they have now made the decision to distance themselves from him in light of the BBC’s misconduct probe.
An Ambitious about Autism spokesperson told The Sun: “In light of recent allegations, we are no longer working with Gregg Wallace.
“We have let him know our decision and thanked him for his support of our work over the last two years.”
Gregg has been very vocal about autism after learning that Sid, four, who he shares with wife Anna, was autistic.
It comes as…
- Gregg Wallace has stepped down from MasterChef
- Star faces probe after allegedly making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues
- BBC Newsnight presenter and 2011 contestant Kirsty Wark says Wallace told ‘sexualised’ jokes while filming
- Gregg accused of talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a young staffer staffer and telling another he wasn’t wearing any pants
- Previous MasterChef episodes presented by scandal-hit Gregg still on iPlayer
- MasterChef star Aasmah Mir shares cryptic ‘always keep your receipts’ post
- BBC will still air two Masterchef festive specials this Christmas – despite both being fronted by Gregg Wallace
- Gregg breaks his silence – thanking fans for showing their support
Speaking when he started working with the organisation, Gregg said last year: “I am thrilled to be Ambitious about Autism’s new ambassador. As a parent to my wonderful autistic son, Sid, this charity is very close to my heart.”
Yesterday The Sun told how Gregg was forced to quit his MasterChef job amid the investigation.
He allegedly made sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb presenter Kirsty Wark.
The Sun revealed how he previously came under fire after “inappropriate sexual comments” were reportedly made to a female staffer on Impossible Celebrities.
Since then, 13 people who worked with Gregg across a range of shows over a 17-year period have now accused him of making sexual comments.
Among the complainants is BBC Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, who said he told “sexualised” jokes during filming on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
The broadcaster told how she feels strongly that the comments were “really, really in the wrong place”.
Times Radio presenter and 2017 Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir today posted a cryptic message after the news broke, saying: “Always keep your receipts.”
Other allegations include Gregg talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a junior staffer and telling another young colleague he wasn’t wearing any pants.
BBC News today confirmed they launched a probe into Gregg in the summer after claims were made regarding five shows between 2005 to 2022.
MasterChef production company Banijay UK said complaints have been made this week in relation to “historical allegations” of misconduct while on the show.
The company has now launched its own “immediate, external review” into his so-called behaviour.
Gregg Wallace's career to date
Gregg Wallace has been a familiar face on TV for years now thanks to his role as a judge on MasterChef - but let's take a closer look at his career so far...
- Gregg Wallace left school at 15 and started his career working on a fruit and veg stall in London.
- In 1989, he started George Allan’s Greengrocers, a company that grew to a turnover of £7.5 million.
- Gregg’s experience in the world of fruit and veg lead to him co-hosting Veg Talk on BBC Radio 4 with Charlie Hicks for seven years.
- He then became the first host of Saturday Kitchen in 2002, a role he held for a year before being replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson in 2003.
- At the same time, Gregg presented a number of food-related TV specials, including Veg Out for the Discovery Channel.
- Gregg landed his most notable TV role as a co-presenter and judge on BBC’s competitive cooking show MasterChef in 2005. He stars alongside John Torode.
- In 2010 Gregg pursued another life-long dream of opening a restaurant. He opened the establishment Wallace & Co. in Putney.
- Then, in 2012, he opened Gregg’s Bar & Grill in a joint venture with the Bermondsey Square Hotel.
- Gregg then scored a hosting gig with the BBC, presenting the documentary Supermarket Secrets in August 2013.
- Unfortunately, times were tough for Gregg, and in the same month, it was reported that one of his companies, West Veg Limited, had folded, owing more than £500,000.
- In 2014, both of his restaurants folded, with Wallace & Co owing suppliers £150,000.
- However, his TV career continued to thrive, and in 2015 became the regularly host of the award-winning documentary food series Eat Well for Less? Gregg helmed the show for eight years before stepping away.
- He also competed on Strictly Come Dancing.
- Gregg then made Telly history again when he revived the BBC’s historical game show Time Commanders.
- More recently, the celebrity chef has presented a number of travel programmes such as Big Weekends with Gregg Wallace, South Africa with Gregg Wallace, and the food mockumentary, Gregg Wallace: The British Miracle Meat.