Gregg Wallace quit Inside The Factory after ‘offending factory staff’
Gregg Wallace quit his role as the presenter of the BBC show Inside The Factory after “offending female staff” with his use of “inappropriate banter,” sources say.
The presenter, better known for his longtime role on MasterChef, was originally reported to have run away to help care for three-year-old son Sid, who is autistic.
But an alleged incident at Nestlé UK’s factory in York, where the show has been held five times, is believed to have prompted his departure in March.
Wallace is said to have insulted certain female staff members during a “friendly” conversation with comments about their weight. The times reports.
“He was rude to the staff and continued to speak in a derogatory manner, especially to women,” a source told the publication.
Gone: Gregg Wallace quit his role as the host of the BBC show Inside The Factory after ‘offending female staff’ with his use of ‘inappropriate banter’, sources say
Discord: An alleged incident at Nestlé UK’s factory in York, where the show is based on five separate occasions, is believed to have prompted his departure in March
While the comments were non-sexual in nature, they were deemed “inappropriate” and a complaint was filed with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show.
“He got a call and was shocked that he had committed such an offense,” the source added.
“He felt like he was just trying to be nice, but he didn’t know what to say and decided to leave.”
A Nestlé UK insider has since confirmed that the presenter unintentionally upset staff while filming the show, adding: “He jokes but is from a very different world to our employees.”
Wallace, who hosted the show for seven years, had already filmed upcoming episodes for the factual program, delving into how goods are made.
Stay put: While leaving Inside The Factory, Wallace has retained his role as host alongside John Torode on MasterChef (pictured)
Following his departure, the BBC confirmed that he will continue to judge MasterChef alongside co-presenter John Torode.
Speaking on Gaby Roslin’s BBC Radio London show in March, Wallace insisted he had to leave Inside The Factory because his son Sid, who is non-verbal and autistic, needs extra support with his education.
Wallace, a former greengrocer, described his three-year-old son as a “sweet, sweet little boy” with a “wonderful mother,” but admitted “it’s not easy.”
The MasterChef host admitted that filming the show involves a lot of traveling away from his family as he visits factories across the country.
“So I’ve decided I’m not really going to do Inside The Factory anymore,” Wallace said.
Going further: Wallace, who hosted the show for seven years, had already filmed upcoming episodes for the factual program, which delves into how goods are made
Family: The MasterChef host originally claimed he wanted to spend more time with his three-year-old son Sid. (Pictured Wallace with his wife Anne-Marie and Sid)
“It’s a good time to call it quits because there’s actually 12 episodes in the can… so I wouldn’t have filmed in a while anyway, so it just seemed like a good idea to call it quits.”
The original host of the long-running BBC cookery show Saturday Kitchen shares Sid with his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini, whom he married in 2016.
Wallace, who has also appeared in Eat Well For Less, Turn Back Time, Harvest and Supermarket Secrets, added that he is almost 60 and runs his health website ShowMe.Fit in addition to his time with his family.
The judges of Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals added: ‘Imagine a kid that you can’t threaten or bribe and that’s basically what you’ve got.
“You have a little boy who’s cuddly and happy and naughty like any little boy would be, but he can’t talk, he can’t talk to you, so he gets frustrated because he’s having a hard time telling you what exactly what he needs.
“Right now we need to find him an education and I can’t just leave that to Anna – that’s a big, big decision.
Resigned: “It’s a good time to call it quits because there’s actually 12 episodes on the bus… so I wouldn’t have filmed in a while anyway, so it just seemed like a good idea to call it quits.” he said in March
Busy man: Wallace added that he is almost 60 and also has his health website ShowMe.Fit to spend time with his family alongside
“I mean, all the parents are concerned about the schools the kids go to. Ours is even more stressed because of poor little Sid’s troubles.’
Jack Bootle, the Corporation’s head of factual specialist, said Wallace “has been an integral part of the series’ success” and has “bringed humour, intelligence and genuine curiosity to one of the BBC’s greatest recurring factual brands”. ‘.
“I want to thank him for all his hard work and commitment to the program,” he added:
Before starting his broadcasting career, Wallace worked in Covent Garden’s fruit and vegetable market before founding George Allan’s Greengrocers in 1989.
The TV presenter, who also has two children, Tom and Libby, from a previous relationship, took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honors last year for services to food and charity.
MailOnline has reached out to a representative for further comment.