Gregg Wallace was reportedly rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack just days before his MasterChef contract termination was confirmed, as the BBC faces 50 new complaints about the presenter’s conduct.
The 60-year-old television personality was treated at a hospital in Ashford, Kent, on Sunday following two days of severe chest pain. Sources close to Wallace indicate he was informed his MasterChef contract would be terminated merely two days after his discharge from hospital.
A friend of the presenter told The Sun: “The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It’s been hell.” The health emergency coincided with mounting pressure from misconduct allegations that have dominated headlines in recent weeks.
Health Crisis Timing
Wallace reportedly endured two days of agonising chest discomfort before seeking emergency treatment at the Kent hospital. Medical staff treated the former greengrocer for what was described as a suspected heart attack, though the exact nature of his cardiac condition has not been officially confirmed.
The presenter confided in associates about the physical toll of the ongoing controversy surrounding his television career. The hospitalisation occurred amid an intensifying investigation into his workplace conduct spanning nearly two decades.
Wallace’s health scare follows years of documented cardiac concerns. In 2017, his doctor warned him he was “heading for a heart attack” due to high cholesterol levels approaching 14 – nearly triple the recommended limit. The warning prompted significant lifestyle changes and a four-and-a-half stone weight loss.
Fighting Back Against Allegations
Wallace has vowed to challenge the mounting allegations, declaring: “I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.” The presenter accused BBC News of “peddling gossip” after the broadcaster revealed dozens of new complaints had been received.
In a five-page statement posted on social media, Wallace acknowledged: “I recognise my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise.” However, he maintained he has been “cleared by the Silkin report of the most serious and sensational accusations.”
The latest allegations include claims from two women who said Wallace exposed himself to them, a student who alleges he put his hand up her skirt in 2013, and another woman who claims he groped her the previous year. Wallace dismissed these new claims as “baseless and sensationalised.
Autism Diagnosis Revealed
Wallace has disclosed a formal autism diagnosis, arguing the BBC failed to protect him from what he described as “a dangerous environment for over 20 years.” The presenter claimed his neurodiversity was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef.
Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me,” Wallace stated. He emphasised he was hired as “the cheeky greengrocer” with “warmth, character, rough edges and all” – an authenticity that was “part of the brand” for over two decades.
“Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem,” he argued. Wallace’s son Sid is also autistic and non-verbal, and the presenter has served as an ambassador for the charity Ambitious about Autism since 2023.
Investigation Findings Imminent
MasterChef production company Banijay is expected to release the findings of the Lewis Silkin investigation this week. The 200-page report follows a six-month inquiry into Wallace’s conduct across various programmes over a 17-year period.
A source familiar with the report suggested Wallace’s December 2024 video dismissing complainants as “middle-class women of a certain age” was alone a “dismissible offence.” The comment sparked widespread criticism, including from Downing Street, which described it as “completely inappropriate and misogynistic.
BBC News reported receiving complaints from more than 50 people, with the majority alleging inappropriate sexual comments. Eleven women accused him of inappropriate sexual behaviour, including groping and touching. Wallace has vehemently denied these claims.
Career in Jeopardy
Multiple media outlets have reported Wallace has been dropped by the BBC, though the corporation has not issued a formal statement confirming his departure. Wallace himself claimed in his statement that he had been sacked despite being cleared of the most serious allegations.
The presenter, who co-hosted MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, was replaced by food critic Grace Dent for the show’s 20th season. Several Christmas episodes were also pulled from the BBC’s 2024 festive schedule while investigations continued.
Wallace’s television career spans numerous programmes including Inside the Factory, Saturday Kitchen, and Eat Well For Less. His departure marks a dramatic fall for one of the BBC’s most recognisable faces.
Mental Health Struggles
In April 2025, Wallace revealed he had contemplated suicide amid the allegations, stating: “I hadn’t slept for four days. The feeling of being under attack, of isolation, of abandonment was overwhelming.”
The presenter has hired lawyer Dan Morrison, who previously represented Nigel Farage, and is reportedly considering legal action against the BBC or Banijay. His legal team is pushing for the executive summary of the misconduct report to be made public.
As the investigation concludes, Wallace maintains his innocence of the most serious charges whilst acknowledging past inappropriate behaviour. The combination of health crisis and career collapse represents a dramatic turn for the television personality who built his brand on being an authentic “cheeky greengrocer.
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