Gregg Wallace defends himself in opposition to allegations

Gregg Wallace has defended himself in opposition to allegations about him, insisting “they don’t seem to be all true”.

Chatting with the Every day Mail, Wallace – who stepped away from presenting MasterChef final November within the wake of the claims in opposition to him – stated he felt “underneath assault” and that he had contemplated suicide.

A BBC Information investigation revealed allegations of inappropriate sexual feedback by 13 individuals who had labored with Wallace throughout a variety of exhibits, over a 17-year-period.

Since then, additional claims of “groping” and “touching” have emerged, all of which Wallace has strenuously denied.

MasterChef’s manufacturing firm, Banijay, has launched an inquiry into the historic allegations.

In his first interview for the reason that claims emerged, Wallace stated that he had acquired “a tidal wave of abuse” on social media after posting a video on Instagram hitting out at his accusers.

Within the video, which he subsequently apologised for, he stated the claims in opposition to him had come from “a handful of middle-class ladies of a sure age”.

“Information channels had been updating hourly with new allegations,” he stated.

“You are watching your self get personally ripped aside, criticised, accused of all types of stuff over and over. You are pondering, “This is not true. It is not true. What’s coming subsequent?”

Wallace stated he could not sleep on the time, including: “The sensation of being underneath assault, of isolation, of abandonment was overwhelming. No one from the BBC contacted me as soon as these tales began breaking – completely no person in any respect.”

The BBC and Banijay declined to remark.

Wallace stated that on the time, his mom referred to as him to ask why individuals had been “choosing on him”.

He stated he responded: “I’ve stated one thing actually silly. They’re investigating my behaviour, however increasingly persons are coming ahead with complaints about me. Mum, they don’t seem to be all true. I have not achieved these items.”

Wallace revealed that his mom not too long ago died, including that it was “terribly unhappy” that she had spent the previous couple of days of her life studying “horrible issues” about him.

One of many ladies who spoke to BBC Information as a part of its investigation was broadcaster Kirsty Wark who appeared on Celeb MasterChef.

Wark accused Wallace of telling “sexualised jokes” through the filming of the present, and stated that it left individuals feeling “uncomfortable”.

However Wallace says he was by no means conscious he had offended her till it got here to gentle final yr, saying: “I assumed we obtained on.”

Different high-profile media personalities, together with Vanessa Feltz and Kirstie Allsopp, additionally spoke up on the time.

Wallace stated that Feltz’s criticism “knocked him for six”, and in addition pushed again in opposition to Allsopp’s feedback about his language, saying: “I would not have stated that.”

Writing on Instagram in November, singer Sir Rod Stewart described Wallace as an “ill-mannered bully”, and stated the presenter “humiliated” his spouse Penny Lancaster when she was on Masterchef in 2021.

Addressing that declare, Wallace stated it was a “disgrace” as he appreciated Sir Rod. He acknowledged there had been a “falling out” between himself and Lancaster, however stated it was over “whether or not an orchid ought to keep on a bowl of soup or not”.

He additionally addressed different allegations that emerged in the direction of the top of final yr, together with one which he’d walked round on set bare with a sock on his penis.

He admitted to placing a “sock over my non-public bits” and opening his dressing room door shouting “hooray”, however claimed he did this to 3 buddies who had been within the studio after filming had completed, fairly than whereas it was happening.

He admitted that a number of the inappropriate jokes had been “most likely true”, saying: “A few of what’s been stated sounds just like the form of feedback I might have made.”

However he insisted he by no means groped any employees, calling these claims “completely not true”.

He additionally stated that lots of those that work with him had been supportive, together with John Torode, his co-presenter on MasterChef.

Torode has not responded to a request for remark.

When Banijay launched an inquiry, Wallace stated his “world tumbled in”.

“It is very troublesome to elucidate the strain except you’ve got been by way of it. I considered suicide on a regular basis: “Is my insurance coverage updated? Will [Wallace’s wife] Anna get some cash? She would not deserve this. It could be higher if I wasn’t right here.”

He advised the newspaper Banijay had organized for a disaster mentor to help him.

Wallace stated he was not too long ago recognized with autism, saying: “I wish to make it completely clear I am not blaming my behaviour on my analysis, nevertheless it does clarify a hell of so much to me.”

He added that he accepts he was “very gradual to get up” to a altering work atmosphere.

“It wasn’t till seven years in the past that I had a large wake-up name and realised the loud, energetic greengrocer persona I used to be on the telly was, perhaps, changing into redundant. So I modified.”

“I truthfully by no means meant to upset anybody. I assumed I used to be entering into on daily basis and simply delivering what was needed. I did not realise I used to be inflicting any issues.”

Wallace has been one in all Britain’s most excessive profile presenters for greater than 20 years.

BBC Information, which is editorially impartial from the broader organisation, began investigating Wallace final summer season, after changing into conscious of allegations. The claims had been made throughout 5 exhibits, from 2005 to 2022.

Many of the allegations got here from manufacturing employees. Many had been younger feminine freelancers.

Allegations heard embrace Wallace speaking overtly about his intercourse life, taking his high off in entrance of a feminine employee saying he needed to “give her a vogue present”, and telling a junior feminine colleague he wasn’t sporting any boxer shorts underneath his denims.

BBC Information has additionally heard from a former MasterChef employee who says he confirmed her topless footage of himself and requested for massages, and a former employee on Channel 5’s Gregg Wallace’s Large Weekends, who says he was fascinated by the very fact she dated ladies and requested for the logistics of the way it labored.

One other feminine employee on MasterChef in 2019 says Wallace talked about his intercourse life; a feminine employee on the BBC Good Meals Present in 2010 says Wallace stared at her chest; and a male employee on MasterChef in 2005-06 says Wallace usually stated sexually specific issues on set.

After BBC Information’s preliminary investigation, extra ladies got here ahead with claims.

One lady says he touched her backside at an occasion and one other says he pressed his crotch in opposition to her whereas filming on a distinct present.

His attorneys have strongly denied he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.

Wallace has repeatedly declined interview requests from BBC Information.

In case you have been affected by any of the problems raised on this story, data and help may be discovered on the BBC’s Motion Line.