Gregg Wallace returns to screens on MasterChef amid 'sexual comments' investigation

12/02/2024 04:35 PM

GREGG Wallace returned to TV screens tonight for the first time since the BBC launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct on set.

The 60-year-old TV star hosted MasterChef: The professionals’ semi-final, alongside Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.

During the show, the under fire greengrocer turned TV star tasted five varied dishes and helped decide who would progress to the series finale.

The remaining five contestants had 1hr 45 minutes to produce a dish worthy of the showpiece.

Unfortunately for chef William, his dish was the least complete and he was sent home at the end of a stressful time in the kitchen.

The salt-baked chicken roulade with smoked vegetables and black and white noodles, which was inspired by William’s grandmother, sounded delicious on paper, but the execution was a big let down.

The noodles, in particular, were soggy, and Marcus was baffled by the decision to salt-bake the roulade.

The semi-finalists each cooked a dish that had an emotional tie to someone that meant a lot to them.

Gregg said: “We have a strong suspicion this is going to be a very emotional day.”

While four of the five cooks chose family members, quirky Gaston dedicated his lobster dish to pop star Lady Gaga.

It prompted Greg to declare: “You are different.”

Gaston took it as a compliment and replied: “Thank you.”

Gregg added to camera: “I'm sure Lady Gaga will love it. If he came and did sausage and mash, we'd probably collapse in shock.”

Elsewhere, George’s take on an 1,000 year old Iranian lamb dish went down a storm.

Gregg told the delighted chef to thank his girlfriend and her mum – the two inspirations behind the meal – such was its impact.

Viewer reaction to his appearance was mixed.

One fumed on X: “And there he is, centre stage. Crass, idiotic misogynistic Gregg Wallace’s career defies logic, his agent was a genius.”

A second wrote: “Watching MasterChef and thinking how the heck could Greg Wallace not contain himself to professional standards and protect the charming career he had??!!”

However, a third said: “Just want to let you know that I am watching #Masterchef this evening @bbc and I am not being ‘triggered’!!”

Earlier today, Gregg apologised over his “middle-class women of a certain age” rant.

Former MasterChef host Gregg said he’ll “take time out” during a probe into his alleged sexual comments on MasterChef.

Gregg faces a backlash after mounting a disastrous defence of his behaviour yesterday.

He said: “Now I've been doing MasterChef for 20 years. Amateur, Celebrity and Professional MasterChef.

“In that time I've worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all different walks of life.

“Now I'm reading in the paper that there have been 13 complaints in that time.

“I can see them ­coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isn't right.

“Over 20 years of TV, can you imagine how many women on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo?”

But he has now posted an apology on his Instagram account – saying he was under a “huge amount of stress”.

He said: “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 space when I posted it. I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion.”

In the post, he added: “I felt very alone and under siege yesterday when I posted it.

“It is obvious to me I need to take some time out while this investigation is underway.

“I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology.”

Wallace stepped back from the BBC1 cooking show last week after complaints about inappropriate behaviour over a number of years.

It has emerged that the BBC was warned about Gregg’s sexist behaviour at least five times over seven years.

BBC officials carried out an HR investigation in 2018 and spoke to the star multiple times about inappropriate comments.