Rod Stewart has accused Gregg Wallace of being a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” for “humiliating” his wife, Penny Lancaster, when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef.
It was announced on Thursday that Wallace, 60, had “stepped away” from his role on the cooking show after the BBC began a sexual harassment inquiry following a Telegraph investigation.
Stewart described the news as “good riddance” and accused Wallace of cutting his treatment of Lancaster, a model and television personality, out of the programme.
“So Greg [sic] Wallace gets fired from MasterChef,” the musician wrote on Instagram.
An allegation was made to the BBC of “inappropriate” behaviour by Wallace towards women on the MasterChef set.
Penny Lancaster with husband Sir Rod Stewart in August. Photo / Getty Images
Wallace’s lawyers told BBC News it was entirely false that he had engaged in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
Banijay UK, which makes the hit show for the BBC, said it was conducting “an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate”.
“While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.”
The inquiry began after the alleged victim told her story to the Telegraph and made a formal complaint to the broadcaster about the incident, more than a decade ago.
The Telegraph understands a former member of the production team has claimed Wallace held her head and thrust his body towards her, mimicking a sex act, when she was kneeling in front of him to clean a mark off his trousers.
Gregg Wallace was appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2022. Photo / Getty Images
Former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark was a Celebrity MasterChef contestant in 2011.
She told BBC News that, on two occasions in particular, Wallace used “sexualised language” in front of several people. She thought those present were uncomfortable with the remarks.
Last year, Wallace quit another BBC programme, Inside the Factory, over “inappropriate comments made to staff”.
He has faced previous allegations during his career.
A BBC spokesman said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company, we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”
