Celebrity MasterChef’s Aggie MacKenzie slams ‘smutty’ Gregg Wallace and reveals real reason she didn’t complain to BBC
CELEBRITY MasterChef star Aggie MacKenzie has opened up on Gregg Wallace’s “smutty”, incessant behaviour on the set of the BBC show.
The How Clean Is Your House personality featured on the foodie series in 2011 – the same year as Scottish broadcaster Kirsty Wark – who made complaints to the broadcaster about Gregg’s conduct.
The MasterChef host is the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty – accusations he denies.
The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Former Newsnight host Kirsty claimed on two occasions Gregg told stories and jokes of a “sexualised nature” in front of contestants and crew while filming MasterChef’s celeb spin-off 13 years ago.
She said that his jokes and comments were “really, really in the wrong place.”
Now Aggie has spoken out and admitted: “I agree with everything Kirsty says.”
During a chat on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, she said: “The jokes weren’t directed at me.
“But the jokes were always smutty.
“They were endless – it was as if Gregg was some sort of dinosaur that couldn’t read the room.”
She then added: “I can’t listen to his voice now, it triggers me.”
The Scot suggested Gregg’s biggest crime was being “really really boring.”
Suggesting he uses his form of humour to mask this, she added: “He doesn’t know how to hold a conversation.
“He has to fill up the space with nonsense.”
As GMB host Ed Balls asked if she was “uncomfortable” about Gregg’s behaviour, she then said: “Uncomfortable, I wouldn’t say I was uncomfortable.
MasterChef facts
MASTERCHEF has been a staple BBC series for years - but what are the key details?
- MasterChef launched on BBC One back in 1990
- It ran until 2001, then was revived in 2005 as MasterChef Goes Large
- John Torode joined the revamped series in 2005, where he teamed up with Gregg Wallace as hosts
- Controversial moments? In March 2018, Gregg refused to judge Zaleha Kadir Olpin’s stewed chicken rendang dish as he claimed it was ‘not crispy enough and could not be eaten.’
“I was more furious actually that I had to listen to all that nonsense.”
Ed’s fellow GMB co-host Susanna Reid then quizzed her about why she hadn’t lodged an official complaint, with the 13 others, including Kirsty, who have.
Aggie said: “I thought, he’s a man in a very powerful position.”
She then suggested Gregg and co-host John Torode “don’t have a relationship” and “stand at other sides of the room” away from filming.
Aggie continued to talk on why she didn’t complain, and said: “I just thought I’m going to be out of here, I’m not going to have to put up with this any longer, its someone else’s problem.”
SPEAKING OUT
Production company Banijay UK this week confirmed Gregg will be “stepping away” from MasterChef.
It said: “This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.
“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.
“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.”
Gregg – married to Anne-Marie Sterpini — hit back, claiming: “The allegations were investigated six years ago and my comments were found to be not sexual. I repeat, not sexual. Thank you everybody for your time.”
Last year, he stepped down from another BBC show, Inside The Factory, amid allegations he was “rude to staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women.”
This weekend, Gregg spoke out on social media – and blasted the “middle class women of a certain age” making complaints about him.
The former greengrocer hit back against the accusations in another bizarre Instagram post.
He told his followers: “I have been doing Masterchef for 20 years – amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life.
“And apparently now I am reading in the paper there’s been 13 complaints in that time.
“In the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef.
“This isn’t right.
“In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?”
The cooking show’s production company, Banijay UK, yesterday said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
The BBC said it would be inappropriate to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay’s investigation.