Celebrity Masterchef winner Emma Kennedy 'reported Gregg Wallace to TV bosses 12 years ago'

30 November 2024, 08:11

Emma Kennedy has said she reported Gregg Wallace 12 years ago
Emma Kennedy has said she reported Gregg Wallace 12 years ago. Picture: Alamy

By Kit Heren

A former winner of Celebrity Masterchef has said she reported Gregg Wallace to TV bosses 12 years ago, after he stepped down from presenting the show amid misconduct claims.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Wallace stepped back from hosting Masterchef on Thursday following allegations of inappropriate behaviour during filming.

He was accused of making inappropriate sexual comments in front of contestants and crew over 17 years.

Emma Kennedy said she reported inappropriate behaviour by Wallace in 2012, adding in a statement to the Sun: "They knew then. They knew before then and they've known since."

The fallout from Wallace's alleged misconduct continues to grow, as on Friday, autism charity Ambitious about Autism cut ties with Wallace, saying they are "no longer working with" him.

A spokesman added: "We have let him know our decision and thanked him for his support of our work over the last two years.”

Read more: MasterChef judge Monica Galetti 'shows support' for Gregg Wallace but John Torode remains silent

Read more: Gregg Wallace 'made rape joke' on Celebrity Masterchef set, Ulrika Jonsson claims

Gregg Wallace
Gregg Wallace. Picture: Getty

The presenter originally took on the role after his four-year-old son, Sid, was diagnosed with autism.

It comes after a friend said Wallace had "no filter" and claimed he may have autism himself.

Wallace has never been tested for autism due to a feeling of responsibility that he passed it down to his son, the close therapist friend said.

They said they believed it may have contributed towards his alleged inappropriateness on set.

Wallace is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode.
Wallace is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode. Picture: Alamy

"Gregg carries many of the autistic symptoms, the people who know him best have been saying it for years," the friend told MailOnline.

"He's never formally been tested, due a feeling of responsibility over Sid's diagnosis, but he really should be as it may explain a lot about his actions.

"Gregg has form for his inability to read the room, saying things that don't really belong in the moment.

"He has no filter and in social situations that can become dangerous, especially when it comes to jokes about sex.

"He has a light filter when it comes to sex which is common in people on the spectrum. In the modern world of TV where you can't just dismiss some of his actions as banter."

They added: "Sometimes he doesn't interpret facial expressions and tones of voice clearly, therefore can't decipher how a person is reacting to what he's saying.

"But there's no denying he's a good, honest bloke."

It comes as Masterchef judge and food critic William Sitwell also said he considers Wallace to be a 'top bloke'.

"Interesting, funny, exhausting and outrageous, is the Gregg I know," he wrote in the Telegraph.

"I gather his colleagues at MasterChef and the production company are as astonished as I am about the news.

"And I’m sure we all hope this force of nature will be back on set sooner than you can say, as his catchphrase goes, 'buttery biscuit base'."

Wallace thanked people on Thursday for "showing their support" following the allegations.

In a short Instagram clip, he said: "I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support.

"That’s good of you. Thank you very much."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

England's Harry Kane during the international friendly match at The City Ground, Nottingham

Harry Kane wants England to learn from 3-1 defeat to Senegal after team booed off pitch

Philip Culling, 52, was one of two child protection officers at the Godolphin and Latymer School in west London.

Deputy headteacher at top public school who had sex with pupil in cupboard banned from teaching

A mass unmarked grave at the former site of the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway

First mass exhumation of children's graves to begin at Irish mother and baby home next week

Fabio Fognini and Corentin Moutet shared a tense handshake after the Frenchman's victory

‘Look at me, you PIG’ snaps tennis star during tense handshake on court after defeat

Sam and mum Jo travelled across Mexico and Argentina together

Race Across The World star Sam Gardiner’s cause of death revealed

A dedicated gardener gently waters her flourishing plants, banner

Millions missing out on water bill support due to 'unmeterable' homes

A man reacts in front of candles at a school where a shooting took place on June 10

Pipe bomb and farewell letter found at home of Austria school shooter, say police

The San José, a Spanish ship, sunk after being attacked off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia.

'Holy grail' shipwreck with £15,000,000,000 worth of treasure found in Caribbean

Tijjani Reijnders has joined Manchester City from Milan and takes the club’s spending this year to £288m.

Manchester City continue summer spending spree with new £46million Dutch midfielder

'Telling Derek about my heart condition would have killed him,' admits Kate Garraway

'Telling Derek about my heart condition would have killed him,' admits Kate Garraway as she opens up on health battle

Phineas Float, Jonathan Collyer, and Lisa Stocker who are accused of smuggling nearly a kilogram (over two pounds) of cocaine into Indonesia sit inside the courtroom at Denpasar District Court

'I was framed': British mother facing death penalty in Bali for 'smuggling cocaine in Angel Delight' claims stitch-up

A TV ad for Twix showing a man with flowing hair involved in a car chase and crash that results in his and an identical, caramel-coloured car sandwiched on top of each other, has been banned

Twix advert banned for encouraging unsafe driving

Police searching for Madeleine McCann clues uncovered buried guns and bone fragments

Madeleine McCann police find ‘two buried guns' near prime suspect's abandoned house

Claudia Winkleman (left) and Tess Daly arriving at the red carpet launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2019

Strictly Come Dancing hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly 'to be recognised' in King's Birthday Honours list

One of the Red Arrows Hawk T1 jets comes in to land at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team are staying overnight in Liverpool before continuing their their journey from RAF Lossiemouth.

RAF hits back over claims Red Arrows 'in crisis' after legendary display team forced to plunder old planes for parts

A vehicle is set alight during an anti-immigration demonstration in Ballymena

Anti-immigration unrest leaves 17 officers injured in Ballymena as police chief slams 'dangerous' underfunding