Gregg Wallace has admitted his “defeat” and accepted that his career is over following an investigation by a production company into his alleged sexual harassment and groping.
The TV presenter, 60, walked away from MasterChef after 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, accused him of “incorrect” and inappropriate “sexualised” behavior during filming.
The claims span a 17-year period and include instances of inappropriate behavior, including wandering around the set naked with a sock on his penis, inappropriate jokes and two claims of groping crew members.
In October, Gregg vehemently denied making inappropriate sexual comments toward women, stating that he would never “flirt” or “flirt” with another woman and: “I didn’t say anything sexual.”
A source has told MailOnline that Gregg has told friends he “accepts his TV career has basically come to an end”.
They revealed that Gregg is being “pretty thoughtful and pragmatic” about the investigation and concluded that “he’s had a good career and done well for a guy who was basically a greengrocer.”
Gregg Wallace admitted “defeat” and accepted that his career was over by confessing that he had “done well as a greengrocer” amid an investigation into sexual misconduct.
A source has told MailOnline that Gregg has told friends that he “accepts that his television career has basically come to an end (pictured in 2000 with Charlie Hicks for the show Follow That Tomato).”
Gregg set up his own fruit and vegetable business (earning the nickname ‘Gregg the Veg’) in 1989, supplying restaurants such as Quaglinos, where young Australian chef John Torode worked.
Irish TV chef Anna Haugh is reportedly one of the favorites to replace Gregg and join John on the popular TV show.
While this year’s Masterchef Christmas specials have been pulled from television programming, there is also discussion that the BBC will ax historical shows featuring it due to the nature of the complaints.
The BBC has told MailOnline that they “always keep content under review on iPlayer” and are currently “not removing any content at this stage”.
Representatives for Gregg declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.
Other allegations include talking openly about his sex life on set, detailing intimate acts, flirting with crew members and asking younger colleagues for their numbers.
Meanwhile, The Sun reported that the star has stopped using his legal team because he believes he will be fired from MasterChef and has resigned from his fate.
The presenter reportedly turned down crisis publicity teams in the weeks after several women complained he had groped or harassed them.
Last month he announced he would stop presenting MasterChef after almost 20 years, while an investigation into his alleged misconduct takes place.
They revealed that Gregg is being “pretty thoughtful and pragmatic” about it and has come to the conclusion that “he’s had a good career and done well for a guy who was basically a greengrocer.”
Irish TV chef Anna Haugh is reportedly one of the favorites to replace Gregg and join John on the popular TV show.
Gregg, 60, walked away from MasterChef after 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, accused him of “incorrect” and inappropriate “sexualised” behavior during filming.
Earlier this week, Penny Lancaster broke her silence after her husband Rod Stewart criticized the presenter, saying she had been a “victim and witness” of Gregg’s bullying.
Earlier this week, Penny Lancaster broke her silence after her husband Rod Stewart criticized the presenter.saying that she had been a “victim and witness” of Gregg’s harassment.
She said: “I was definitely a witness and victim of some of Gregg Wallace’s bullying and harassing behavior. And sadly many members of the production team witnessed it as well.”
She continued: “I really feel like he used his position of power to, I think, intimidate and cause distress to a lot of people on set.
“And it’s really unfortunate that someone like him is allowed to get away with it while others stand by and allow it to happen at the same time.” And it’s obvious that a lot of people have come forward.’
Following his exit, singer Rod launched a furious rant at the presenter, calling him a “chubby, bald, rude bully” for “humiliating” his wife Penny when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021.
Explaining the decision behind Rod’s angry post, Penny said: ‘My husband, when he heard people talking about the disturbing behaviours, couldn’t contain himself.
“The protective husband thought, ‘I’m not going to stay silent, I need to say something,’ because he realized how upset she was at that moment.”
The BBC claims Gregg walked away from MasterChef after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him the right to reply.
The model, 53, addressed the allegations for the first time, saying she had been a “victim and witness” of Gregg’s harassment (pictured on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021).
Following his exit, singer Rod launched a furious rant at the presenter, calling him a “chubby, bald, rude bully” for “humiliating” his wife Penny when she appeared on the show.
They say he was warned after a complaint was made in 2018, but during the summer of 2024 new historic claims emerged.
Gregg is “committed to cooperating fully throughout the process,” said the show’s producer, Banijay UK.
Gregg will be on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will air as planned and until December. The MasterChef Christmas specials will also continue to be broadcast.
The chef has since thanked people for their support following allegations he imitated a sex act and entered the MasterChef studio “completely naked” apart from a “sock covering his penis.”
Gregg is accused of imitating a sex act in front of a member of the show’s production staff who was kneeling to clean his pants during filming, according to the lurid and so far unfounded allegations.
The shopkeeper-turned-presenter is also accused of making “disgusting sex-related jokes,” including one about a “aunt” while sampling a contestant’s dish during the show.
In a video posted to Instagram last month, he said: “I’d like to thank everyone who reached out, reached out and showed their support.”
“That’s very nice of you, thank you very much.”