Gregg Wallace has been accused of inappropriate physical conduct involving three women, according to recent allegations. Former MasterChef winner Emma Kennedy has further disclosed that she reported similar concerns regarding Wallace’s behavior 12 years ago.
A former contestant, speaking on condition of anonymity, has alleged that Gregg Wallace groped her during her time cooking on the set of the show. Additionally, it is claimed that Wallace verbally berated her, shouting “You stupid cow,” following an incident where she inadvertently scalded her hand by turning on the tap incorrectly.
The contestant, who chose to remain anonymous, alleges she expressed her disgust to Gregg Wallace following his actions, stating that she felt “her card was marked” for not perceiving the behavior as humorous banter. Speaking to The Sun, she described an incident where Wallace approached her from behind while she was at the kitchen counter, placed his hands on her hips, and pressed against her. She claims her immediate reaction was to make an “Eww” sound and step forward, which prompted Wallace to move away without comment.
The woman further alleges that Wallace’s conduct worsened after she accidentally burned her hand under a hot tap, during which he failed to assist her and instead berated her, acting in what she described as an “absolute b*****d” manner. She reported feeling deeply upset by the incident, stating, “It was awful. He offered no assistance. I wanted to cry.”
The contestant also accused Wallace of mistreating the show’s staff, alleging he pushed a camerawoman and shouted, “Get out of my f****ng face.” She chose not to formally complain at the time, citing a lack of confidence in any meaningful action being taken, stating, “I didn’t see the point because they won’t do anything.”
Another woman has alleged that Gregg Wallace made sexually inappropriate comments towards her and inappropriately touched her. According to her account, Wallace told her that she aroused him and proceeded to squeeze her buttocks.
At the time, the woman, then 27 years old, was working one of her first roles as an events planner and had initially met Wallace at the Ideal Home Show in London. She claims to have encountered him again later at a pub, where he allegedly initiated a conversation and remarked that he could not look her in the eyes because he was aroused.
The woman further alleged that, the following day, she met Gregg Wallace’s then-wife, Heidi Brown, whom she described as “really sweet.” However, she claims Wallace’s demeanor shifted when he approached them. According to her account, Wallace pretended not to recognize her, allegedly saying, “Do I know you?” in what she interpreted as an attempt to justify his prior behavior. She described the encounter as “grim and not acceptable.”
The woman chose not to file a formal complaint, citing concerns about potential repercussions.
A third allegation was brought forward by Celebrity MasterChef winner Emma Kennedy, who claims she reported Wallace’s behavior 12 years ago. Kennedy alleges she witnessed Wallace grope a camera assistant during a photoshoot for the 2012 finals.
Wallace announced his resignation from the TV programme on Thursday amidst an ongoing investigation into his conduct. Ms. Kennedy, 57, also claimed that the MasterChef PR team had been aware of Wallace’s alleged behavior and had expressed concerns that it was only a matter of time before the allegations became public.
