Penny Lancaster reveals truth behind Rod Stewart’s attack on ‘disturbing bully’ Gregg Wallace – and claims MasterChef star used his power ‘to intimidate and cause distress’ on BBC set
As a seasoned observer of public figures, I must say that Gregg’s journey seems to be a complex tapestry woven with strands of personal and professional challenges. His decisions, whether it be leaving Inside The Factory or quitting MasterChef, appear to be driven by a deep sense of responsibility towards his family, particularly his autistic son Sid.
Penny Lancaster recently spoke up about MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace, following her spouse Rod Stewart’s criticism of the host, which came after he left the BBC program due to allegations of misconduct.
This month, Rod made an angry outburst towards the Masterchef host, referring to him as a “plump, bald-headed, rude brute” and accusing him of humiliating his wife during her participation in Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 for being impolite.
60-year-old Gregg took a leave from MasterChef following accusations by 13 individuals, among them Kirsty Wark from Newsnight, alleging unacceptable and sexually suggestive conduct during the production process.
On Thursday’s episode of Loose Women, Penny spoke up about the allegations for the first time, stating that she was both a victim and an observer of Gregg’s bullying behavior.
She said: ‘I most definitely was witness and victim to some of the bullying and harassment behaviour of Greg Wallace. And unfortunately a lot of those in the production team were also witness to that.’
As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but express my conviction: I truly sense that he misused his authority to instill fear and discomfort in numerous individuals on the production set.
It’s truly regrettable that he manages to escape consequences, yet others seem powerless to intervene as this occurs. It’s clear that many individuals have spoken up about it.
She explained why Rod posted angrily, saying, “Rod lost his temper after overhearing discussions about unsettling actions, and felt compelled to express himself.
Concerned spouse felt compelled to speak up, thinking, “It’s not right for me to remain quiet, I must express my feelings,” as he recognized how distressed I was in that moment.
During her time on the show, Penny found herself shedding tears when Gregg scolded her for the significant delay in her meal preparation, and subsequently declined to partake in what she had prepared.
The instance where Gregg declined Penny’s tartar sauce, criticizing her for using ‘whole eggs rather than egg yolks’, resurfaced following Rod’s comment labeling him as a ‘plump brute’.
Additionally, Gregg scolded Penny, a dedicated volunteer special constable in the police force, for arriving tardy while serving food to judges during the quarterfinals, causing her to shed tears.
Gregg, withdrew from MasterChef following allegations about inappropriate behavior that leaned towards sexualization while filming the popular BBC series.
After the announcement, Sir Rod expressed: ‘I’m glad Wallace is gone… It seems you embarrassed my wife during your appearance on the show, but that part was edited out for you, wasn’t it? You’re a plump, bald-headed, boorish brute. I guess karma has caught up with you.’
13 individuals, among them Kirsty Wark, have lodged complaints regarding his behavior during their professional interactions spanning 17 years and encompassing five different programs, starting from 2005 and ending in 2022, as reported by the BBC.
Kirsty claims that Gregg made sexual stories and jokes during the taping of Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 on two separate instances. Furthermore, she stated that his humor and comments were highly inappropriate for the situation.
On two distinct instances, he employed inappropriate, sexually suggestive speech in the presence of a crowd, yet there seemed to be no reciprocation or engagement from others. It was like a one-way conversation. However, it was something that I hadn’t anticipated, and it made everyone around seem uneasy, which wasn’t part of my expectations.
The BBC and MasterChef’s production company, Banijay, declined to comment.
In an old video from Penny’s stint on the program, the ex-model experienced embarrassment as her fried calamari and self-made tartar sauce didn’t turn out right. The judges declined to sample her dish which they compared unfavorably to a ‘raw egg and milkshake soaked in brandy’.
At first, when given the task to create her own tartar sauce, the ex-Loose Women star appeared to think things were going smoothly and seemed quite self-assured. She even joked to the camera, “I’m doing better than I expected. I don’t want to mess up now.
However, she had spoken prematurely, for her sauce swiftly spoiled when John announced it was inedible, dealing a heavy blow.
When serving, Penny commented, “This tartar sauce doesn’t resemble the kind I usually eat,” to which Gregg replied, “You accidentally used whole eggs instead of just the yolks.
In this container, there’s an uncooked egg mixed with milk and oil. However, I’m unable to consume it,” John Torode remarked regretfully.
Despite the initial setback, Penny didn’t lose hope. She earned praise for her calamari from the duo, and later impressed the hosts with her chicken and coconut curry, green papaya chutney, grated apple, turnip, and carrot salad, as well as her coconut rice.
At that moment, Gregg heaped praises on her, labeling her as an exceptional chef. He further expressed, “I kept moving from one dish to another, struggling to stop tasting, indicating that you truly had a fantastic cooking day, which is highly commendable in our culinary world.
However another clip showed a tense moment between Penny and Gregg as chaos ensued in the kitchen.
In the episode when the model was subsequently dismissed, Gregg expressed to Penny: “Friend, we absolutely cannot afford to be 10 minutes behind,” referring to her tardiness as a significant issue.
Penny admitted she was so emotional: ‘Everything piled on top of me. I just hope the wait was worth it,’ she said.
But unfortunately she was knocked out of the show.
After the outcome, a breathless Penny remarked: ‘Making it to the semifinals would have been amazing, but it wasn’t in the cards. Not a single trace of regret here. I’ve always adored eating food, never had a fondness for cooking – and now I enjoy both.’
“Once you understand that someone’s actions are often rooted in their personal battles rather than about you, you develop a sense of compassion.
Thursday saw Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir post a photo from the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef competition, accompanied by an enigmatic note.
It read: ‘Always keep your receipts’. It is not yet known if she has also complained.
As a loyal admirer, I’d like to share that according to my understanding, I chose to step back from MasterChef following a letter sent by BBC News to my representative on Tuesday. The letter presented claims from thirteen individuals, allowing me the opportunity to respond to these allegations before any further action was taken.
In 2018, a warning was issued to him following a complaint, while fresh allegations based on historical events surfaced during the summer of 2024.
According to Banijay UK, Gregg is dedicated to working closely and completely with them during the entire procedure.
Every Thursday night, without fail, I can’t wait to catch Gregg on BBC One! As always, MasterChef: The Professionals airs, having been pre-recorded, right through until December. And let’s not forget the magical Christmas specials of MasterChef that will still grace our screens this holiday season.
After facing allegations about his inappropriate behavior, such as simulating a sexual act and entering the MasterChef studio seemingly unclothed except for a sock concealing his private parts, the chef has since expressed gratitude for the public’s support.
It’s claimed that Gregg was caught performing an inappropriate gesture towards a crew member who was kneeling to tidy up his pants on set, although these allegations remain unverified at this point.
The former grocery store owner, now TV host, faces accusations of telling offensive sexual jokes, such as one involving a relative and his comments on a competitor’s food during the program broadcast.
On Instagram, he shared a video on Wednesday where he expressed gratitude: “I appreciate everyone who’s been reaching out, offering help, and demonstrating their support.
‘That’s good of you, thank you very much.’
According to The Daily Telegraph, they’ve talked to someone who declares having witnessed those alleged events. Furthermore, this source described Gregg as being quite affectionate, using the phrase “touchy-feely,” as quoted by the paper.
In simpler terms, TopMob has requested Gregg to provide his thoughts on allegations that, if validated, could potentially lead to the termination of a well-known BBC figure’s career amidst another scandal involving sexual misconduct within the organization.
It hasn’t been disclosed what the accusations are exactly, but last month there were reports suggesting that the supermarket mogul-turned-TV personality bragged about his intimate relationships with a junior BBC staff member and exposed his torso to her.
This week, Banijay UK acknowledged that the BBC has received personal complaints regarding past accusations of improper behavior involving presenter Gregg Wallace during one of their programs.
Instead of waiting for the complaints to be raised directly to our program producers or Banijay UK, we believe it’s important to launch an immediate, unbiased investigation by bringing in an outside party to thoroughly examine the matter.
During the ongoing review, Gregg Wallace has decided to take a break from his duties on MasterChef. He’s fully dedicated to collaborating and complying with the process as it unfolds.
At Banijay UK, the well-being of our staff is paramount, and we make certain that our behavioral expectations are transparent for everyone involved in our productions. We encourage open dialogue about any concerns, and these channels of communication – even anonymous ones – are openly publicized on set.
Although these claims stem from the past, any instances that come to our notice where our standards aren’t upheld are carefully examined and handled in an appropriate manner.
If you’d prefer to discuss anything with us, share your thoughts, questions, or worries, feel free to reach out to our dedicated email address: [speakup@banijayuk.com](mailto:speakup@banijayuk.com). All communications will be treated confidentially.
The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it ‘seriously’.
A representative from the BBC stated, “We treat any concerns brought to our attention with importance, and we have strong systems set up to handle them effectively.
It’s important to note that actions that don’t meet the BBC’s high standards won’t be accepted here.
If an individual is hired directly by an external production company, we forward any complaints or concerns to that company and we are committed to assisting them in resolving these issues.
In October, Gregg confessed that he was under pressure due to accusations of making improper sexual remarks towards females, and Lisa Faulkner, the wife of judge John Torode, claimed that he frequently made off-color jokes during filming.
52-year-old Lisa made an appearance on the show in 2010, ultimately taking home the Celebrity MasterChef prize. She shared insights about her experience during her tenure on the series.
As a devoted admirer, I’d rephrase it like this: In my own words, Lisa, renowned from Brookside and Holby City, shared at the Cheltenham Literature Festival about how I used to eavesdrop on the old greengrocer’s humor while I was busy preparing meals.
In my account, I must admit that Gregg seemed to have an unusual affinity for sharing jokes that were, let me put it gently, off-color, during our work sessions with the team.
You seem stationary, and if you’re positioned at the front, you’re busy whittling down time, thinking ‘Only ten more minutes left’. Meanwhile, someone starts telling a story, ‘And so, a girl entered a bar…’
‘And I’m going, ‘Please, I don’t want to hear this joke’.’
As I stood there alongside my spouse, John, promoting our freshly released book, he shared a thought that resonated deeply: “Things have indeed undergone a significant transformation.
In a casual and clear manner, Instead of responding directly to Gregg Wallace’s departure from MasterChef, John Torode chose to share a sweaty selfie on social media instead.
After the announcement that Gregg was leaving his role on the show, I took to my Instagram Stories yesterday evening as a seasoned lifestyle expert to share my thoughts and reflections.
Instead of making a comment about Gregg’s departure, Torode opted to share a photo following his spin class at the nearby David Lloyd gym.
In a casual, friendly manner, Torode flashed a smile at the camera, draped in a grey towel across his shoulder and sporting a freshly worn white T-shirt, following a quick gym workout.
He wrote: ‘Another bloody great class… thank you!’
Previously, The Times claimed that there were accusations against him from women working at the Nestlé factory in York last year in May. These accusations alleged that he made inappropriate comments about their weight during what was supposed to be a casual discussion.
Later, Wallace refuted claims that he parted ways with the Inside The Factory program at the BBC in March of that year because of allegedly inappropriate remarks directed towards women on the team.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain in August 2023, he called the claims ‘inaccurate’.
The paper attributed a statement to a source claiming that he exhibited impolite behavior toward employees and frequently spoke disrespectfully, particularly to females.
It seems that the remarks, although not sexual in nature, were still considered inappropriate by some. As a result, a grievance was filed with Voltage TV, the entity behind the program’s creation.
In a conversation with Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain, Wallace explained that there was actually a disagreement within the team, and the media reports were not entirely accurate regarding his exit from the program.
‘There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out.’
If you examine the headlines, you won’t find a narrative that aligns with them.
Apart from sharing his resignation, Gregg mentioned another reason – the need to care for his son Sid, who was born in 2019 and has autism, prompting him to step down as well.
In simpler terms, he shared that he has a young child named Sid who currently can’t speak and is still in diapers. Sid also faces learning challenges. His mother requires assistance to take care of him.
He found that the challenging aspects of filming at various factories throughout the country made it a logical decision to quit the project.
Gregg stated: “What the articles claimed is not true; I never disputed it. However, there was a matter of contention that I prefer not to delve into, but it differed significantly from the portrayal in those publications.
‘No one was offended; it was merely speculation. I believe it was an appropriate moment for the revelation.’
In August 2016, Gregg exchanged marriage vows with Anne-Marie Sterpini, who is 22 years his junior, at Hever Castle in Kent. They had first crossed paths three years prior to their wedding.
In October, Gregg firmly refuted accusations of making sexually inappropriate comments towards women. He emphasized that he would never engage in flirting or making advances towards other women, stating emphatically: “I did not make any sexual remarks.
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2024-12-12 16:05