Former MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace has admitted to struggling with suicidal thoughts after he was hit with allegations of misconduct. The shamed food critic, 60, was forced to step away from his beloved role on MasterChef in November 2024, as explosive allegations of misconduct surfaced.
In October, Eat Well for Less star was accused of gross misconduct, including making inappropriate sexual comments to 13 colleagues, including Kirsty Wark, and engaging in alleged bullying behaviour. The star, who fronted the show since 2005, was accused of making “inappropriate sexual jokes”, asking for the number of female production team members and getting undressed “too close” to women on the show.
He had also been accused of ‘groping’ three women in separate incidents. The TV star was soon forced to step down from his role at MasterChef while the BBC and production company Banijay UK launched an investigation into the allegations.
Gregg’s lawyers have vehemently denied any accusations of sexual harassment. It was later announced he would be replaced on Celebrity MasterChef with renowned restaurant critic Grace Dent joining John Torode at the helm.
This news followed serious allegations from Penny Lancaster, who claimed she was a “victim of bullying and harassment” by Gregg.
Gregg, however, previously brushed off the complaints, dismissing them as coming from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” His comments were criticised by many, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
And now, months after he hit headlines, Gregg sat down for an interview with Mail+ and admitted he has “thought about suicide all the time”.
After being axed from MasterChef via a Zoom call with bosses in November, he said his “world tumbled in”. He revealed he didn’t talk to anyone for days before a senior executive from MasterChef contacted him following his ‘middle-class women’ comment – which he says was his ‘biggest mistake’.
“Nobody should be left on their own to face something like this,” he explained. “It’s very difficult to explain the pressure unless you’ve been through it.
“I thought about suicide all the time: ‘Is my insurance up to date? Will Anna get some money? She doesn’t deserve this. It would be better if I wasn’t here’.”
Meanwhile, the TV judge’s lawyers were previously quoted by BBC News as saying “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
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