Gregg Wallace wept during his first television interview since being dropped by the BBC, apologising to anyone he had hurt and insisting he was not a 'sex pest' or 'groper'. The former MasterChef host, 60, was sacked after a review upheld 45 of 83 complaints against him, including inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact.
In an emotional interview from his Kent home, Wallace said, 'I’m not saying I’m not guilty of stuff, but so much has been perceived incorrectly.' He denied being a flasher or a sex pest, adding that the allegations had been 'deeply hurtful' to him and his family. He apologised for any distress caused, saying, 'I never set out to harm or humiliate.'
Wallace also spoke about his recent autism diagnosis, suggesting it may have affected his ability to read social cues. He fiercely defended long-time co-host John Torode, against whom a racist language allegation was upheld, saying, 'I’ve known John for 30 years and he is not a racist.' Torode has denied the allegation and announced he is leaving MasterChef.
Despite the upheld findings, the BBC confirmed that a pre-recorded amateur series of MasterChef will air from 6 August. A spokesperson said the decision was not easy, but the show is 'bigger than any one individual'.
