MasterChef star Gregg Wallace denies 'sexual' comments after BBC probe

Gregg Wallace says he did not say "anything sexual" while appearing on a BBC game show more than half a decade ago.

The 59-year-old MasterChef UK judge was responding to reports that there was an alleged incident in 2018 when he appeared on Impossible Celebrities, which was investigated by the BBC.

The Saturday night quiz show, hosted by Rick Edwards, ran for eight series between 2017 and 2021.

The BBC's review found he could continue working at the corporation, The Sun newspaper reported.

In an Instagram story following the front-page story on Monday, Wallace said: "The story that's hitting the newspapers this morning was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC.

"And the outcome of that was that I hadn't said anything sexual. I'll need to repeat this again. I didn't say anything sexual."

Wallace presented Inside The Factory for BBC Two from 2015 to 2023, when he stepped away and said he wanted to focus on taking care of his autistic and non-verbal son, Sid, who he shares with his wife, 39-year-old caterer Anne-Marie Sterpini.

The couple married in 2016 in Haver Castle in Kent with MasterChef co-presenter John Torode as best man, after meeting three years earlier on Twitter when she asked him his opinion on pairing duck with rhubarb.

In a second short video, the former greengrocer said: "Despite what the newspapers are suggesting, nobody six years ago accused me of flirting with anybody or hitting on anybody.

"And the reason I say this is because of my wife Anna. I have always been true to my wife Anna and have never flirted or hit on anybody in the 12 years that I met her and fell in love with her.

"And it's important that - so that people don't misunderstand that - that I am true to my wife."

A BBC spokesman said: "Whilst we do not comment on individuals, if issues are raised they are dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time.

"We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour and have robust processes in place."

The BBC's been treading on eggshells of late, with complaints about welfare checks for contestants on Strictly Come Dancing, and the sacking of One Show presenter Jermaine Jenas, after he admitted sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues.

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Wallace, who has been married four times, has two children, Tom and Libby, from a former relationship.

In 2019, he co-wrote Gregg's Italian Family Cookbook with his current wife Anna, who is a caterer.

Wallace has featured on various BBC shows over the years, including Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, Supermarket Secrets, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, as well as being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2014.

He was made an MBE for services to food and charity last year.

Sky News has contacted Wallace for further comment.

(c) Sky News 2024: MasterChef star Gregg Wallace denies 'sexual' comments after BBC probe