Former MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace has said he thought about suicide ‘all the time’ after he was axed from the BBC show following sexual harassment allegations
Gregg Wallace has opened up about experiencing suicidal thoughts following his departure from MasterChef.
The 60-year-old food critic was compelled to step down from the BBC programme in November after allegations of misconduct, including inappropriate remarks and alleged bullying behaviour. Having been the face of the show since 2005, the TV personality faced accusations of asking for female team members’ phone numbers and undressing ‘too close’ to women on set, according to The Mirror.
Further claims suggested Gregg had ‘groped’ three women in separate incidents, leading him to step away from MasterChef while the BBC and production company Banijay UK looked into the allegations.
Despite the accusations, Gregg’s legal team has denied any instances of sexual harassment. It wasn’t long before it was announced that he would be replaced on Celebrity MasterChef by esteemed restaurant critic Grace Dent, who will join John Torode on the show.
This upheaval followed serious claims from Penny Lancaster, who alleged she was a “victim of bullying and harassment” at the hands of Gregg.
However, Gregg previously shrugged off the complaints, attributing them to “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.”
His remarks gained plenty of criticism, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. Now, months after making headlines, Gregg confessed to Mail+ that he was constantly plagued by suicidal thoughts.
Gregg described how his world came crashing down when he was given the boot from MasterChef during a Zoom meeting with the bosses in November.
He admitted to going silent for days until a top executive from MasterChef reached out following his controversial ‘middle-class women’ comment, which he now recognises as his ‘biggest blunder’.
“No one should be left alone to grapple with something like this,” he said. “It’s hard to convey the pressure unless you’ve experienced it.
“I was constantly thinking about suicide: ‘Is my insurance up to date? Will Anna get some money? She doesn’t deserve this. It would be better if I wasn’t here’.”
Meanwhile, BBC News previously quoted the TV judge’s legal team denying allegations of sexual harassment, stating “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
