Gregg Wallace has opened up about his current investigation into workplace sexual misconduct after three women came forward with comments about the former MasterChef star
Gregg Wallace has spoken out against celebrities who supposedly turned on him during his investigation for sexual misconduct.
The 60-year-old is currently under investigation by the BBC show’s production company Banijay UK after claims of sexual misconduct were brought against him. His on-set behaviour was described as “lewd and inappropriate”. Having been the face of MasterChef 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.
However, Gregg denies all claims made against him. In his most recent press appearance, he hit out against the women who have spoken out against him.
Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, 70, accused him of telling “sexualised” jokes as they filmed Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. Other broadcasters Vanessa Feltz, 63, and Kirstie Allsopp, 53, also made complaints.
Gregg appeared to take Feltz’ comments to heart. He told Mail+ of Kirsty: “I thought we got on. She made it to the final three, so we were together for three months. I can clearly remember drinking champagne with her at the end of the show and sharing jokes.
“I hadn’t seen the complaint so I didn’t know what it was. I thought, “What have I done?” I literally didn’t understand it.”
He continued to say that Feltz’ comments knocked him as she supposedly had heard a story from a friend of hers who said she’d overheard Gregg saying something sexual in a lift.
The former TV star added that he and Feltz were friends and shared social media messages. He even commented: “I thought [she] liked me.”
He disagreed with Kirstie’s allegations, after she claimed he had told her a story about “sex act that and his partner had enjoyed every morning” while they waited a green room together before filming for a pilot.
Gregg insisted he did not say that because he had only ever tried the “sex act” once when he was 28 and “didn’t like it”.
Following the accusations, Banijay UK arranged for him to be supported by a crisis mentor. As part of the process, the mentor insisted he had a mental health screening.
Gregg was then diagnosed with profound autism. Recently, Gregg also claimed to have “suicidal thoughts” during the investigation.
Results of the investigation are set to be revealed next month.
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
