TV Chef Rick Stein admitted that he feels “a bit sorry” for Gregg Wallace (Image: BBC)
TV chef Rick Stein has admitted that he feels “a bit sorry” for following his explosive exit from .
His comments come after Wallace stepped away from the cooking show following a series of misconduct complaints throughout his time on the long-running reality show.
Last year, the dad-of-two stepped back from the reality show while the production company Banijay UK investigates claims of alleged misconduct. In an interview with , the 78-year-old broadcaster said he felt what had happened to Wallace was “unfortunate”.
He also confessed that it would “affect me terribly” if he found himself in a similar situation, adding that he doesn’t have “any skeletons in a cupboard”. In the interview, Stein suggested Wallace is “just a different personality to me”.
He told the publication: “I think partly he hadn’t really taken on that you can’t say certain things now. It’s not so much that he was a nasty person.
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Gregg Wallace stepped back from the BBC show last year (Image: BBC)
“I’m lucky that I’ve got sons who will instantly tell me, ‘Listen, you can’t say this’. And if you don’t pick up on that, the fact that things change, well that’s not very clever.
“Sometimes you think, ‘I can’t believe this’, and then you think, ‘Well, that’s the way it is’. There’s no point in getting all stroppy about it.
“I feel a bit sorry for him really. But I don’t like sleaziness so I’m not saying that (about all of Wallace’s behaviour). But he just didn’t realise that the wind had changed.”
Wallace’s lawyers previously told the : “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.” TV bosses previously said that the corporation will not “tolerate behaviour that falls below the standards we expect” and will continue to champion “a culture that is kind, inclusive and respectful.”
It is understood that a memo sent to staff said the corporation would be supporting MasterChef producer Banijay UK in its internal investigation.
Earlier this month, Banijay UK said in a statement: “It is important to note that MasterChef welfare processes are regularly adapted and strengthened and there are clear protocols to support both crew and contributors.
“These include multiple ways of reporting issues, including anonymously. HR contract details are promoted and contributors are assigned a point of contact on set available to discuss any issues or concerns.”
While the most recent series of MasterChef: The Professionals continued to air during the fallout of the scandal, two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials were pulled from the ’s schedule in December 2024.