Watch moment Gregg Wallace tells female MasterChef contestant ‘I’d smash the living daylights out of that’ pudding
GREGG Wallace made a shock remark to a female contestant about her pudding on last week’s MasterChef.
The Sun revealed that co-host Gregg, 60, has stepped down from his role amid a BBC probe.
Gregg was first accused of making “inappropriate sexual comments” to a female BBC staffer on Impossible Celebrities.
Some 13 people who worked with Gregg across a range of shows over a 17-year period have now accused him of making sexual comments, the BBC confirmed today.
On last week’s episode, Gregg shocked fans by telling a contestant that he’d “smash the living daylights out of” her pudding.
Sous-chef Chiara created a barley and fermented koji rice pudding with a blackcurrant compote, apple marigold oil and a blackcurrant leaf yogurt ice cream.
His comment was made after he tasted Chiara’s yogurt ice cream.
Clearly impressed, Gregg told the chef: “I really like the flavours, it’s slightly oaty, slightly nutty, slightly sweet.
“Oh, I’ll smash the living daylights out of that yogurt ice cream.
“It’s got sourness, slight bit of sweetness, and it’s almost got a blackcurrant apple finish.
“It’s really quite delightful.”
In light of Gregg’s exit, many viewers have said the comment was inappropriate.
One wrote: “On one episode of MasterChef last week he said a pudding was so good that he’d ‘smash the living daylights out of that’. I’m surprised it made the edit.”
A second replied: “Yeah I saw that. I was surprised it got through. I was almost sick in my mouth.”
Among the complainants is BBC Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, who said he told “sexualised” jokes during filming on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
The broadcaster told how she feels strongly that the comments were “really, really in the wrong place”.
Times Radio presenter and 2017 Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir today posted a cryptic message after the news broke, saying: “Always keep your receipts.”
Other allegations include Gregg talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a junior staffer and telling another young colleague he wasn’t wearing any pants.
BBC News today confirmed they launched a probe into Gregg in the summer after claims were made regarding five shows between 2005 to 2022.
Gregg’s lawyers have branded the latest claims as false but the MasterChef host was asked to step away from the hit cooking series while a separate investigation is carried out.
MasterChef production company Banijay UK said complaints have been made this week in relation to “historical allegations” of misconduct while on the show.
The company has now launched its own “immediate, external review” into his so-called behaviour.
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Gregg will still be shown as planned despite the development.
The company said: “While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
“Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
The Sun told how the Gregg first landed himself in hot water with BBC bosses in 2018 for taking off his top and bragging about romps.
He was hauled into a meeting accused of making “inappropriate sexual comments” to a female staffer on BBC game show Impossible Celebrities.
After the complaints were raised, Gregg admitted he had made comments but denied they were sexual.
He also emphasised that he loved his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini, who he wed in 2016.
The TV star said: “With reference to what’s in the newspapers, these allegations were investigated by the BBC six years ago.
“The allegations were investigations six years ago and my comments were found to be not sexual.
“I repeat, not sexual. Thank you everybody for your time.
“I don’t want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that and I never have.”
Gregg has presented MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005 and also hosts spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.