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Compared with the storm below which he retreated from public life, Gregg Wallace’s return to social media this week was surprisingly low key.
No Cockney banter, no grinning selfies, no displaying off his post-health kick dad bod.
Rather, the 60-year-old erstwhile MasterChef presenter reappeared (no less than a pair of fingers, which can or might not have been his, did) with a 30-second video for his Instagram followers about making protein pancakes.
The video had no voiceover, not even a recipe, simply an accompanying be aware from Gregg that learn ‘simple n’ wholesome Gregg Wallace Health’, a reference to his way of life enterprise.
It’s now ten weeks for the reason that greengrocer-turned-television star’s profession spectacularly derailed amid a flurry of claims of inappropriate behaviour throughout his 19-year stint as co-host of MasterChef.
It was introduced the father-of-three could be stepping again from the BBC present amid an investigation into his conduct. It later emerged that 13 people, together with Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, had reportedly accused him of ‘fallacious’ and ‘sexualised’ behaviour throughout filming throughout a variety of exhibits over a 17-year interval.
Gregg Wallace stepped again from MasterChef amid an investigation into his conduct over a interval of 17 years
Three days after the announcement, the presenter landed himself with extra opprobrium when he declared that his accusers had been ‘middle-class ladies of a sure age’ and claimed that ‘completely none’ of the workers on his different exhibits had complained about him.
It was a rare assertion. Afterwards, Gregg launched a considerably red-faced apology, stating: ‘I wasn’t in a very good headspace after I posted it. I’ve been below an enormous quantity of stress, a number of emotion.’
Lawyers, in the meantime, mentioned it was solely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
And then got here silence – till this week.
Gregg’s final submit on social media (he nonetheless has 224,000 followers on Instagram) was on November 27 – simply at some point earlier than the allegations in opposition to him made headlines.
So simply what has been happening on the earth of the as soon as perennially chirpy, now curiously quiet, Gregg Wallace?
According to locals within the peaceable Kent village of Biddenden, close to to Gregg’s dwelling, he has been ‘mendacity low’ right here too.
One mentioned: ‘He at all times used to say hi there. We have not seen or heard him for weeks.’
MasterChef: The Professionals goes into manufacturing this summer time. A evaluation into the presenter’s behaviour is because of be concluded on the finish of the month, the Mail understands
Neither has the presenter been seen selecting up fish from his native farm store, which he beforehand described in a much-mocked account of his day by day routine.
A employee on the Hartley Farm Shop and Cafe, in close by Cranbrook, informed the Mail: ‘I’ve not seen him for the reason that complete fallout. He was at all times having amusing in right here with individuals. It’s a disgrace actually.’
The Mail understands that the ‘evaluation’ into Gregg’s behaviour on MasterChef is because of be concluded by the top of the month, however that he has but to be interviewed by the exterior staff answerable for it, who had been commissioned by manufacturing firm Banijay.
A spokesman for Banijay mentioned the investigation continues to be ongoing and there was no ‘date for subject’ at this stage.
But if it was achieved and dusted earlier than March, that will enable the staff to decide about who ought to current the following iteration within the massively profitable collection, which will probably be MasterChef: The Professionals which matches into manufacturing this summer time.
So with the way forward for his TV profession decidedly unsure, has Gregg been licking his wounds all this time, or has the perpetual chameleon – he began out as a cabbie and window cleaner – been arising with new plans?
It’s not within the nature of the ever-optimistic Gregg to confess defeat and tv sources inform the Mail that whereas he has been spending time along with his household he is additionally been specializing in Gregg Wallace Health.
‘That’s his important different factor exterior of the TV presenting,’ says one supply.
This isn’t, the truth is, a brand new enterprise – he launched the subscription-based platform in 2019.
It presents weekly meal plans and recipes, plus motivation and dietary recommendation for these eager to emulate Gregg’s personal journey – he shed 5 stone after overhauling his way of life – and drop some kilos.
Gregg’s foray again onto social media understandably exhibits how importantly he views his enterprise.
On Instagram, the protein pancakes video was swiftly adopted by an identical submit for breakfast crumble. ‘Healthy should not be uninteresting, costly or troublesome,’ was the temporary missive accompanying the latter.
On Thursday evening Gregg shared his third meal inspiration video of the week – veggie noodles; whereas Friday morning there was a submit in reward of cottage cheese.
The presenter (he manages his personal Instagram account) saved a lid on private messages, however did be certain to ‘like’ nearly each single one of many lengthy string of feedback from followers welcoming his return. There was even the occasional ‘hello’ and an ‘x’.
As for these looking for recipes, he directed them to his web site greggwallace.well being.
But whereas as soon as he was an nearly day by day presence on the well being platform’s Instagram web page, too, followers will be aware that 2025 has begun with a brand new frontwoman – all be it one with a well-known face.
Because the Mail can reveal she is none apart from Gregg’s daughter, Libby, considered one of his two grown-up youngsters from his second marriage to pastry chef Denise Lovell, to whom he was married to between 1999 and 2004. She died in 2017.
Gregg along with his daughter Libby, who has emerged as a frontwoman for the Gregg Wallace Health model on Instagram
Libby, 29, who bought engaged final October and bears an uncanny resemblance to her father, had been a again workplace presence in her dad’s enterprise, however emerged from behind the digicam on January 12.
Not that the smiling blonde says who her father is.
‘Hi lovelies. So I simply needed to introduce myself,’ she says. ‘I’m Libby. I’m one of many staff from behind the scenes at GWH [Gregg Wallace Health]. I helped construct this enterprise, 4 years in the past throughout lockdown, and I’ve been working our social media ever since.
‘So I believed it was about time that I maintain myself accountable and I come out and I share my journey with you. I’m by myself private weight reduction journey, I’ve determined to observe the Gregg Wallace Health plan utterly.
‘I do know a lot of you’ll be going, why have not you already achieved that, you have been working it for 4 years. I do know, I watched particular person after particular person after particular person obtain their goals and smash their targets and I do not know, I do not know why to be completely trustworthy with you. I feel life bought in the way in which.’
She goes on, in frank and fascinating trend (a a lot softer model of her dad), to say she doesn’t like the way in which she appears to be like and that she is getting married subsequent 12 months and needs to ‘really feel good’, not only for her wedding ceremony however ‘for my life’.
She has continued to submit movies, most lately on Monday when she spoke of her crashing ‘concern of failure’, after going public together with her weight reduction journey.
As a display screen presence, she is charming. But it’s, in fact, Gregg’s persona, recommendation and expertise that the majority subscribers join.
He, in the meantime, gave the impression to be in a reflective temper this week.
In a very contemplative weblog, titled ‘Progress not Perfection’ for well being plan followers, he mused: ‘What is perfection anyway? No such factor proper?’
In phrases which may appear laced with irony, given all that has handed, he goes on: ‘We ought to all of us be making an attempt to enhance our lives little by little.
‘In phrases of our weight and our well being that is extremely vital. But we may need to be making an attempt to get a little bit bit happier, a little bit bit extra financially safe or maybe just a bit bit extra chilled out.’
Later he provides: ‘Just be aware of all the choices that we make all through the day. Just ask your self what you are able to do that may make every of those a little bit bit higher.
‘Can you think about the progress you’ll make if you happen to always did that? Don’t fear ever and I imply this about slipping up! Mistakes are by no means the top of your journey. See them for what they are surely, they’re merely slip ups, you’re solely human. If you study a lesson from them that could be a main step ahead.’
Following his exit from the BBC cookery present, Gregg Wallace Health slashed costs and supplied clients £40 off an £89.99 annual subscription, which may, in fact, merely have been a advertising and marketing tactic prematurely of the brand new 12 months interval when many individuals flip to self enchancment.
The low cost not appears to use, however the web site – which incorporates recipes curated by Anna, his spouse of 9 years – proudly declares ‘Lose Weight & Keep It Off!’ promising to assist customers discover a ‘sustainable strategy to shed pounds’ with ‘lasting outcomes’.
While the presenter has been spending time along with his household for the reason that allegations he is additionally been specializing in his well being enterprise
Wallace has launched a brand new venture flogging £8 prepared meals
At the time controversy flared, Gregg had already revealed plans to launch a variety of wholesome frozen prepared meals; plans that he might nicely have meant to pursue with a little bit extra fanfare than the eventual – distinctly low key – launch final month.
The meals, which embrace bang bang rooster noodles and lentil and aubergine parmigiana may be ordered from his web site in packs of 5 or eight, at £8 or £7.50 every.
Gregg, nonetheless, has had little to say about them – save for a launch video, which seems to have been filmed earlier than the MasterChef debacle – it’s dated November 28.
On Thursday morning he posted a brief video to his Instagram Stories; it was of a countryside view – presumably that of the fields he sees every morning from the very comfy Kent farmhouse he shares with Anna, 37, her mom Rina and their son Sid, 5.
‘Make an excellent begin. What are you not gonna do as we speak?’ declares the motivational caption. The musical accompaniment? The Korgis’ 1980 hit Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime. Whether that is one other reference to his personal journey we’ll by no means know.
A TV supply says: ‘He’s mainly bought to attend till this investigation is concluded, so there’s not so much he can do till that is achieved. So, he’s in a little bit of a hiatus for the time being and a little bit of limbo. He is ready to see.
‘He’s used to working. MasterChef is just about a year-round, full-time job. So, he’s used to doing that. But he has simply bought to attend for this investigation to run its course.
‘I feel he has come to the realisation over time that it’s critical stuff.’
Perhaps, then, Gregg is heeding his personal recommendation.
In one other well being weblog submit, on January 30, he had this to say: ‘Change we all know may be uncomfortable. But please it will not take lengthy until your new routines appear extremely pure, so pure the truth is that you’re not even contemplating them. They simply occur. As this develops and as your new routines turn out to be your new regular you’ll look within the mirror at some point and realise you look utterly completely different.’
While Anna, too, has been notably quiet with private posts – no sharing Christmas images, meals out or holidays – she has, nonetheless, shared the occasional motivational message on her Instagram Stories.
‘Hang in there… In two weeks as we speak we can have our first 5pm sundown,’ learn one. ‘Brighter days and higher issues are coming,’ learn one other.
Whether brighter instances see Gregg Wallace return to tv screens stay to be seen.
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