Latest news with #BanijayUK
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gregg Wallace sets up group chat exclusively for middle-aged men with £12 monthly fee
Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is offering fans a health and fitness plan, which includes a private chat room for middle-aged men, for more than £10 a month at the moment Gregg Wallace promotes his one-to-one coaching for men over 50 Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has launched a private chat room for middle-aged men as part of his career as a health and fitness coach. He's been promoting his coaching following the scandal over the BBC show. It was announced last year that Gregg, 60, would step away from MasterChef whilst its production company Banijay UK reviewed historical misconduct complaints. As reported at the time, he said through a lawyer: "It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature." Then, earlier this month, it was reported that Gregg had been fired from the TV show after an investigation upheld 45 out of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour. It has since been announced that his co-star John Torode won't have his contract renewed following an upheld complaint of racist language against him, which he's said he has no recollection of. Following the news of his departure, Gregg, who lost five stone in his fifties, has been promoting himself as a health and fitness coach. His Healthy Fifty brand offers "expert advice" on nutrition and activity for £11.99 per month, for example. It's website teases that members can "feel better and look fitter" through the guidance. Membership also includes The Clubhouse, described as a "private chat room for men over 50". The website promises: "Real talk, real support - hosted by Gregg Wallace. Fitness, food, lifestyle and laughs." The Be Healthy over 50 plan is said to include "expert advice on living well over 50," the live chat group managed by Gregg and a library of "healthy" recipes. It's currently priced at £11.99 per month, according to the website. Gregg's also been offering one-to-one coaching to fans, which he's promoted on social media in recent weeks. He mentioned the opportunity again in a video on his Instagram Story today, writing: "1 to 1 coaching £200 a month!" The TV presenter said in the video message: "Gentlemen over 50, are you listening? Look, in my experience, guys get to this age and they realise they put a lot of work and effort into their job, their career, their business, but not a great deal of effort into looking after themselves." "They look down, belly's a bit bigger than you want it to be. You want to look better in your clothes. You want to feel be a bit fitter, a bit leaner. Let's be honest - we also start thinking about our health as we get older," he added. Gregg continued by telling his followers: "I've been coaching guys for over four years. Let me tell you; to get better health, to be leaner, to be healthier, you don't have to be in the gym all the time. And you don't have to eat salads." He concluded by saying in the video: "It's about small lifestyle changes that change habits, that can make an enormous difference. Look, if you would like to have a chat about your own health journey, leave me a message here." It was announced earlier this month that the BBC has "no plans to work with [Gregg] in the future" following the review into allegations about him. It said: "The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years." Gregg had already issued a statement about the Silkin's Report, saying that it "exonerates" him of "all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds [him] primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018." He said: "I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks."
Daily Record
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Gregg Wallace breaks silence after Rod Stewart brands him 'tubby bully'
Gregg Wallace has responded to Rod Stewart's 'hurtful' comments against him, revealing that he is actually a big fan of the singer. MasterChef's Gregg Wallace has broken his silence after Sir Rod Stewart called him a "tubby, bald-headed, ill mannered bully". The 60-year-old initially stepped down from the franchise after the BBC announced it was looking into historical allegations of misconduct against him. He was then officially fired after the bombshell Silkins review, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK, upheld 45 allegations against him, including a case of "unwelcome physical contact". In the wake of the news that the BBC was investigating Wallace, Sir Rod alleged in a post that the scorned host had 'humiliated' his wife Penny Lancaster when she was on the show in 2021. He wrote: "So Gregg Wallace gets fired from Masterchef. Good riddance Wallace. You humiliated my wife when she was on the celebrity version of the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? "You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart." In a new interview with The Sun, Gregg replied to the hitmaker's remarks, stating: "I'm actually a Rod Stewart fan. "I've been to see him twice. So that hurt me. Somebody like that carries a lot of weight. But there was no bullying and no harassing." Talking about Sir Rod's Instagram post on Loose Women in December, host Penny confessed: "I didn't realise my husband had sent that post out until it was out. And of course, you can imagine the influx of inquiries there were." She explained she was on jury duty at the time and didn't realise what had happened until later, saying she was left "shocked" by Rod's message. She explained: "When I did turn my phone back on I got a message from a friend saying, 'Oh my God, how amazing was that message your husband put out!' And I was like 'What message? What has he done?'." Penny explained: "I most definitely was witness and victim to some of the bullying and harassment behaviour of Gregg Wallace, and unfortunately, a lot of those involved in the production team were also witness to that. "I really feel that he used his position of power to, I believe, intimidate and cause distress to a lot of people on set." Wallace's MasterChef co-presenter John Torode followed in Wallace's footsteps after he was also axed following a report that included an accusation that he had used racist language. Wallace went on to say that he had unfollowed John and his wife Lisa Faulkner on social media, insisting that the MasterChef co-presenters "never got on that well". He added that he understands he said offensive things and that those on the receiving end were perhaps "too intimidated or nervous" to report the incidents at the time. Wallace went on to apologise to those he had upset and said he "doesn't expect sympathy".
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Lisa Faulkner reveals her motto for staying strong after John Torode MasterChef axe
Lisa Faulkner has hinted at hard times in one of her first posts since her her husband John Torode was told that his MasterChef contract would not be renewed after a historic allegation of racism Lisa Faulkner has hinted at hard times after her husband John Torode's MasterChef contract was not renewed. The chef had presented the show alongside Gregg Wallace for years but he will now not return to the show. It was announced that Torode's contract on the BBC series would not be renewed after a historic allegation of racism. Torode confirmed he was the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of his co-presenter Gregg Wallace. A statement from Banijay UK said: "In response to John Torode's statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously. The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018. "This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint. Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract." Torode also confirmed that he was the person alleged to have used racist language but said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. A BBC spokesperson said: "John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace- was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation. "He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed." Now, Lisa has hinted at hard times as she spoke about her pet pooch Rory and how he had "kept her smiling". Taking to social media, she shared a snap of her cuddling her pet dog, writing alongside it: "Our little shadow over the past few weeks. I can't tell you how much Rory has kept me smiling. Every day she wakes up wagging her tail, smiling and greeting a new day with her positivity! My motto really is Be More Rory."
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Gregg Wallace announces charity role after claim he 'used autism as an excuse'
Gregg Wallace is being lined up as a patron for an autism charity after it was claimed he used the disability 'as an excuse'. The MasterChef judge, 60, was first hit with misconduct allegations last autumn, which resulted in him stepping back from the cooking programme. After Grace Dent stepped in to replace him to record the final episodes, Wallace was then officially sacked after the bombshell Silkins review was published. Commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK, 45 out of 83 allegations were upheld against him, including a case of 'unwelcome physical contact', but he has insisted the most serious allegations were unproven. Before the report was published Wallace said he was considering legal action against the BBC and MasterChef production team, claiming he was discriminated against due to his autism following his dismissal from the long-running series. Now, following his exit, he has caught the attention of charity boss Annie Sands, who approached him to see if Disability Advice and Welfare Network (DAWN) could help him to better understand the condition. Last year, the charity Ambitious About Autism dropped Wallace as an ambassador in the wake of the original claims made against him. A spokesman for the charity Neurodiversity in Business also told the BBC earlier this month that autism is 'not a free pass for bad behaviour'. But, speaking to the Mirror, Sands said: 'People were attacking him and saying he was using his autism as an excuse. 'I heard someone say 'autistic people don't make inappropriate remarks'. Well, that's a ridiculous thing to say. Come and work with us for a week, you'll hear a lot worse than that. Each autistic person presents differently. 'This is about what's appropriate in the workplace. It comes down to education, and the ability to make reasonable adjustments.' The boss, who was diagnosed with the condition herself later in life, went on to explain that Wallace's autism report 'screams neurodiversity'. 'We help all those who come to us, everybody deserves support. For me it's about putting Gregg Wallace the celebrity to one side and working with Gregg Wallace the autistic person. 'As an organisation we are not afraid to stick our head above the parapet – he deserves our help just as much as the next person. We hate injustice, whoever comes to us, we will never turn them away.' Speaking to the publication, Gregg said that the charity has been a 'pillar of strength at a very dark time'. 'I've learned so much about autism and my issues in the two weeks that I've been talking to Annie,' he said. 'So much of what she's told me has helped me make sense of my condition – she's made me understand that the persona I learned in Covent Garden fruit and veg market is the same one that I took into the television studios. Everybody loved that version of me. What I've learned is that I still have a lot to learn.' More Trending The former MasterChef star added that he wants to continue working with the charity and he wants to support them in the future. This comes after Wallace recently responded to singer Sir Rod Stewart, who branded him a 'tubby, bald-headed, ill mannered bully'. In an interview with The Sun, Gregg responded to the hitmaker's remarks, stating: 'I'm actually a Rod Stewart fan. 'I've been to see him twice. So that hurt me. Somebody like that carries a lot of weight. But there was no bullying and no harassing.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: BBC legend claims government banned 'shocking' TV show for 20 years MORE: Lisa Faulkner makes first public statement since John Torode's MasterChef firing MORE: David Attenborough's new BBC series reveals spectacularly tender moment with baby gorilla
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner breaks silence on MasterChef axe
Lisa Faulkner has broken her silence after her husband John Torode was sacked as judge on MasterChef following an allegation of racism. John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner has broken her online silence following her husband's sacking from MasterChef. She's spoken after it was confirmed Torode's contract with the BBC series would not be renewed due to a historic allegation of racism. In a video posted on her Instagram on Monday night, July 28, the actress told fans: "Hi there, I just wanted to check in and say hello. I'm here and just thank you for all your lovely comments because they really, really mean a lot. So thank you." Lisa, 53, married Torode in 2019. This is the second marriage for the pair, with the former Holby City actress previously being with Chris Coghill, known for his role as Tony King in EastEnders. They share an adopted daughter named Billie. Torode's ex-wife is Jessica, and they have two children together. The former MasterChef star, 59, also has two older children from a previous relationship, reports the Mirror. Lisa and Torode first met when Lisa competed on Celebrity MasterChef back in 2010, forming a strong friendship that eventually blossomed. The pair hit it off immediately, maintaining their friendship after filming, but Lisa insists there was no initial romantic spark. "He was a judge on a show I loved and I was petrified of him. He was brilliant and gave us all tips so you didn't want to let him down," she recalled. "All I could think was, 'That sauce hasn't worked'. I didn't see anything but food for three months. After I won, we did The Good Food Show and stuff. John and I always got on, but I never thought about me and him." John Torode's contract with MasterChef will not be renewed, as confirmed by the BBC and production company Banijay UK. The Australian-born presenter, 59, began co-hosting MasterChef with Gregg Wallace in 2005. Torode acknowledged that he was the subject of a complaint regarding the use of racist language, which was upheld during a review conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of his co-presenter Gregg Wallace. Banijay UK issued a statement saying: "In response to John Torode's statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously. The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018. "This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint. Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef." The report from Lewis Silkin, commissioned by Banijay UK, found that 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, along with two standalone allegations made against other individuals, including one for using racist language. Torode acknowledged he was the individual accused of racist language but stated he had "no recollection of the incident" and was "shocked and saddened" by the allegation. A BBC spokesperson commented: "John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace- was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation. "He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. "The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed." Despite Torode's MasterChef dismissal, he has continued to grace television screens alongside Lisa for their own programme. An insider close to ITV confirmed to the Mirror that their scheduling for John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen 'remains unchanged' despite John's dismissal from MasterChef.
