British TV presenter Gregg Wallace has announced plans to up sticks after leaving MasterChef amid an alleged misconduct enquiry.
Historic allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ involving the 61-year-old surfaced in November 2024. These included workplace misconduct claims, with 45 of the 83 reports being upheld.
The investigation resulted in Wallace’s firing from MasterChef, Britain’s premier cooking contest, and its Professional version.
Prior to his cancellation, the father-of-one had helmed the BBC programme since 2005 with John Torode. He also presented shows such as Supermarket Secrets and Inside the Factory.
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Matt Tebutt was drafted in to replace Wallace as a judge on series 18 of MasterChef: The Professionals.
Food critic and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Grace Dent is set to take over the 22nd series of MasterChef when it premieres on 21 April. Irish chef Anna Haugh has also been drafted in, with the pair replacing Wallace and Torode.
Wallace, who was born in Peckham, now plans to exit the United Kingdom with his family amid the sale of his ‘enormous’ £1 million home in Kent.
This ‘new chapter’ was announced via Instagram and will see the star fleeing to Italy, where he and his fourth wife, Anne-Marie Sterpini, 38, will homeschool their five-year-old son, Sid, who has autism.
"I've always loved Italy and we plan to move around and rent in different places which is quite an adventure and with the help of my autism specialist mates, I am going to homeschool Sid as well,” the ex-Saturday Kitchen alumni said.
“It is a new chapter for us. It is a life that should be full of travel and adventure and I'm very very much looking forward too it.”
The Mirror reported that he will also purchase a home in York, presumably when the sale of his family home in Kent - which sits on a five acre estate - goes through.
On giving up his house, Wallace said: “I can't have the life I used to have but whether you chose to believe it or not, I really wanted to come out of that anyway, but obviously not in the dramatic way that I did.
“I want to ease off a little bit, I want to relax a little bit. but that also comes with wanting financial security for me and my family because I've got a wife that is much younger than me and a special needs little boy, Sid.”
52-year-old Dent has spoken to the Radio Times about how it feels to take over MasterChef, claiming she didn’t feel as if she was ‘picking up’ after anyone.
“I've been going to work every day at the helm of the most important food show, probably in British television history. I think I'm doing well. Am I doing well?”
She continued: "There is no way I'd show up a year ago on that set and begin to work in the manner that I did, while looking backwards.”
Dent said working with Haugh, 45, was a ‘joy’ and taht she brings ‘incredible experinece to the table’.
“I am in for such a treat with this series, I can't wait to get started.”
MasterChef returns on Tuesday 21 April at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity, Social Media
Ella Scott