BBC's Gregg Wallace says 'it explains a lot' after receiving life-changing diagnosis

Edinburgh Live

30-04-2025

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Gregg Wallace has revealed that amidst last year's sexual misconduct claims, he was shaken by a personal revelation. Speaking to The Daily Mail, the former MasterChef judge disclosed that during the turmoil, he was diagnosed with autism, remarking: "It does explain a hell of a lot to me."
The culinary star, aged 60, linked his diagnosis to the period following his notorious Instagram story in which he attributed the allegations to "middle-class women of a certain age."
According to his interview with The Daily Mail, he reflected on the impact of the scandal saying, "My world tumbled in."
He elaborated on the intense public scrutiny he faced, mentioning how his name was put alongside Jimmy Savile and Huw Edwards, coupled with the sheer volume of online vitriol and sensational media coverage. Wallace expressed his concerns about the current mechanisms for vulnerable individuals to raise complaints of bullying or harassment, noting the shortcomings when those accused are in the public eye and subjected to what he terms a 'public trial., reports Bristol Live.
He recounted his outburst during the crisis, "Crying out loud, I had no idea where all these people were coming from. Then I went completely wild and blamed it all on middle-class women. It was the biggest mistake but, by far, the best thing I could have done."
This blast, as Wright explained, proved paradoxically beneficial as it prompted a response from someone on the MasterChef team, who finally reached out to him. He indicated that prior to this, he felt abandoned amidst the flood of accusations.
"He was the first person I'd spoken to in days. Nobody should be left on their own to face something like this. It's very difficult to explain the pressure unless you've been through it. I thought about suicide all the time: 'Is my insurance up to date? Will Anna get some money? She doesn't deserve this. It would be better if I wasn't here.'".
"The MasterChef exec said, 'Mate, what are you doing?'".
"I told him I had to speak out because people were saying what they liked about me and it wasn't true. I said, 'It just keeps on and on. What am I supposed to do?'".
In light of his struggles, Banijay UK, the company behind MasterChef, stepped in to provide Wallace with a crisis mentor.
Wallace found solace in the mentor, who he referred to as "the life raft" he "clung to" and who encouraged him to undergo a mental health evaluation. The outcome of this assessment led to a diagnosis of autism.
"I want to make it absolutely clear I'm not blaming my behaviour on my diagnosis, but it does explain a hell of a lot to me," Wallace clarified.
He also expressed confusion over why his television persona, which seemed to irritate many for years, was never brought to his attention earlier.
The revelation of his condition didn't come as a shock to those close to him.
Wallace recounted a prolonged debate with John about the difference between 'travelling' and 'going on holiday,' a distinction that baffled him due to the varied descriptions from contestants, which sounded more like holidays than actual travel.
"The producers are like, 'Mate, will you stay on the food?' I'm saying, 'No. I need to know what constitutes travelling. How long were you away? How many hotels?' John's like, 'Will you just f***ing drop it?'".
The results of the BBC's probe into Wallace are anticipated to be made public next month.