Latest news with #ChristopherBiggins
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Christopher Biggins condemned over ‘grabbing women' remarks
Christopher Biggins has been called out after attempting to defend sacked MasterChef host Gregg Wallace with the admission that he used to 'grab women' while working on sets. The 76-year-old pantomime actor bizarrely joked that his past conduct towards women would've landed him in 'prison' if he did it today. Biggins, who also appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2014, claimed that this type of misconduct was not uncommon 25 years ago and was considered 'affection'. Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'Years ago, I would approach a woman from behind and grab her... Well, I'm gay, so it didn't matter. And I'd like to still be doing it, but I don't think I can anymore. 'If I were to do that now, I'd be put into prison. Twenty-five years ago, we were all doing it. It was a thing of affection.' He continued: 'Everybody is now terrified. I wouldn't want to be a comedian. I think comedians have a really tough job.' Refuge ambassador and former Love Island star Sharon Gaffka told the publication: 'Touching someone without their consent, regardless of the context, is never funny.' The Independent has contacted Biggins' representatives for comment. His remarks come after he revealed that he had reached out to Wallace and his family following his departure from MasterChef. 'I love Gregg and I love his wife,' he explained during an appearance at the National Reality TV Awards. 'I've tried to get hold of her because they must be going through a terrible time, because suddenly careers are vanishing, it's so wrong.' Wallace's position on MasterChef was deemed 'untenable' last month when an investigation into historical misconduct upheld 45 of 83 allegations against the presenter, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact. Meanwhile, John Torode, who had presented MasterChef alongside Wallace since 2005, was sacked just a day later, as the same report upheld a complaint against him involving 'an extremely offensive racist term'. The latest series of MasterChef, which is presented by Wallace and Torode, premiered this week. The heavily edited first three episodes were made available on BBC iPlayer and appeared to feature fewer jokes and interactions between the hosts and contestants. Some viewers said they felt 'conflicted' seeing the hosts on screen following the accusations against them. One contestant, Sarah Shafi, agreed to be edited out of the series after objecting to it being broadcast over concerns that it sent the wrong message to women. The BBC later revealed that news about the show had an impact on ratings, as the launch show was watched by just 1.96 million, as opposed to the 2.73 million who watched last year's debut episode. The fact that this series launched in August, rather than in the usual April slot, may also have affected the viewership. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Christopher Biggins defends Gregg Wallace by making bizarre claim
Christopher Biggins, 76, has defended sacked MasterChef host Gregg Wallace by stating he used to "grab women by the t***ies," claiming it was considered "affection" 25 years ago. Biggins, who is gay, joked that such actions would now lead to imprisonment, suggesting that people are "terrified" and comedians face a tough job. Refuge ambassador and former Love Island star Sharon Gaffka criticised Biggins' comments, stating: 'Touching someone without their consent, regardless of the context, is never funny'. Gregg Wallace's position on MasterChef became "untenable" after an investigation upheld 45 of 83 allegations against him, including inappropriate sexual language and unwelcome physical contact. John Torode, Wallace's co-presenter, was also sacked after a complaint against him involving an "extremely offensive racist term" was upheld.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Iconic TV star shockingly admits he wants to 'grab women by t***ies' in bizarre defence of Gregg Wallace after Masterchef host's axe amid sexual misconduct probe
Christopher Biggins has shockingly admitted he would still like to be 'grabbing women by the t***ies' in a bizarre defence of Gregg Wallace. The iconic actor, 76, who is openly gay, said his own past behaviour would today 'land him in prison' and claimed 25 years ago 'everyone' was acting inappropriately. Gregg, 60, stepped down from his duties as Masterchef host after more than 40 complaints about his behaviour were upheld following a BBC investigation. Christopher, who appeared on the show's celebrity version in 2014, said he'd reached out to the scandal-plagued broadcaster following the axe, as well as sharing insight into his own less than savoury antics. He told The Sun: 'Years ago I would approach a woman from behind and grab her t***ies from the front. Well, I'm gay so it didn't matter. And I'd like to still be doing it, but I don't think I can any more. 'If I were to do that now I'd be put into prison. Twenty-five years ago we were all doing it. It was a thing of affection.' He went on: 'I love Gregg and I love his wife. I've tried to get hold of her because they must be going through a terrible time because suddenly careers are vanishing, it's so wrong.' Daily Mail have contacted Christopher Biggins' reps for further comment. No stranger to his own controversy, Christopher was famously axed from the Celebrity Big Brother back in 2016 after making a shocking comment to X Factor star Katie Waissel, which was never broadcast. Christopher told Katie, who is Jewish: 'You better be careful or they'll be putting you in a shower and taking you to a room.' Bosses immediately removed him from the house, and his £100,000 fee was reportedly slashed. Christopher has since apologised for his comments, noting that some of his close friends, such as Birds of a Feather's Lesley Joseph, were Jewish. Earlier this week Gregg Wallace and wife Anna stood united as they celebrate their nine year wedding anniversary on Instagram. Anna shared a smiling selfie with Gregg as they enjoyed a picturesque picnic at Hever Castle in Kent, the location of their wedding almost a decade ago. Years ago I would approach a woman from behind and grab her t***ies from the front. Well, I'm gay so it didn't matter. And I'd like to still be doing it, but I don't think I can any more Anna, who shares son Sid, five, with Gregg, looked stunning in a green dress and sunglasses while the BBC star wore a black fleece and baseball cap. Alongside a photo of the grounds of the castle, she penned: 'Back at Hever Castle today to celebrate our anniversary'. She also re-shared a video Gregg posted of the couple discussing their anniversary as the presenter gushed he is 'a very lucky man'. Gregg said: 'Hello it's our wedding anniversary, how many years Anna?' prompting her to reply, 'Nine years'. He continued: 'Nine years, how long have you been together, 12 or 13? We're not sure. 'The theme is willow and we've got a picnic basket and we are at Heaber Castle which is where we got married nine years ago. 'Beautiful setting, beautiful wife, I'm a very lucky man'. The BBC review into his behaviour concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Gregg related to inappropriate sexual language and humour'. It added that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated', with 'one incident of unwelcome physical contact' also substantiated. Though the findings resulted in Gregg being fired from the BBC completely, it appears the presenter could be lined up for another big show. On Thursday, bookies are predicting Gregg will feature in this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! The jungle show, hosted by Ant and Dec, will return with a brand new cast of celebrities this November. Gregg is currently 4/1 to appear, according to William Hill, while his former co-host John has odds of 6/1. Australian-born chef John, 59, also lost his job after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have 'absolutely no recollection' of. I'm A Celeb has previously been used as a platform for under-fire celebrities to reinvent their image. Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock competed on the show in 2022, bagging an appearance fee of £320,000 and finishing in third place. Gregg and John have returned to screens for one final time together as the BBC made the decision to air the controversial 21st series of MasterChef. It was filmed last year and remained shelved by the broadcaster until the findings of the independent investigation were gathered. Fans have been left divided over the move to air the programme, with some branding the decision as 'bizarre' and accused the BBC of being 'tone deaf'. There was a last-minute scramble behind-the-scenes to re-edit it and limit the appearances of John and Gregg. One contestant, Sarah Shafi, will not appear on the programme after she complained about the behaviour of Gregg Wallace. She claimed she was 'eyed up and ogled' by Gregg Wallace on the show, while accusing the TV host of making an 'off' comment about his reputation with women.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TV star admits ‘grabbing women by t***ies from behind' as he defends Gregg Wallace
CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS has defended MasterChef's Gregg Wallace – claiming his own behaviour in the past could have seen him 'thrown in prison'. The pantomime star, 76, made the shocking comment that he used to 'approach a woman from behind and grab her t***ies'. 6 6 6 It comes after Gregg, 60, was fired by the BBC last month following a nine-month investigation into claims of misconduct against him. He was exonerated of the most serious allegations, but the broadcaster later revealed 50 more people had come forward with fresh claims, which Wallace denies. On the subject of being 'cancelled', Christopher said: 'It's part of our times – people do behave badly, but I think it's all very unfortunate. 'Years ago I would approach a woman from behind and grab her t***ies from the front. Well, I'm gay so it didn't matter. And I'd like to still be doing it, but I don't think I can any more. "If I were to do that now I'd be put into prison. Twenty-five years ago we were all doing it. It was a thing of affection.' Christopher added: 'Everybody is now terrified. I wouldn't want to be a comedian. I think comedians have a really tough job.' On Christopher's comments, Refuge ambassador and former Love Island star Sharon Gaffka said: 'Touching someone without their consent, regardless of the context, is never funny. 'He might have found it amusing, but did the women he did this to feel the same? Experiences like this can leave lasting psychological harm. 'Sexuality is irrelevant here. Under the law, touching someone's breasts or genitals without their consent is sexual assault. ' 'I'd still like to be doing it' is a disturbing admission and could be described as predatory behaviour. MasterChef fans call out Gregg Wallace's 'odd interest' in contestant's Disney princess girlfriend 'Women know just how wrong and deeply upsetting such actions can be. 'While comedians often walk the line between humour and offence, physical assault has never been part of that equation, nor should it be.' Christopher appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2014 and reached the semi-finals. Speaking at the National Reality TV Awards last week, he added: 'I love Gregg and I love his wife. 'I've tried to get hold of her because they must be going through a terrible time because suddenly careers are vanishing – it's so wrong.' 6 6 6 Gregg Wallace - MasterChef scandal in Brief GREGG Wallace has stepped down from his MasterChef hosting role after a probe into alleged inappropriate behaviour. But what's the situation? Regular MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years. Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark - accusations he denies. The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated. Yet the former greengrocer spoke out on social media to blast the "women of a certain age" who he claimed were behind the allegations. The cooking show's production company, Banijay UK, has said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace's alleged misconduct.
Telegraph
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Christopher Biggins: ‘I earned £1m after winning I'm a Celebrity'
Actor and director Christopher Biggins, 76, has graced the screen and stage for more than 50 years. He rose to prominence with his portrayal of Lukewarm in the prison comedy, Porridge, before taking on the scene-stealing role of Nero in I, Claudius. In 2007, he was crowned king of the jungle on I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! Biggins, as he is affectionately known, and his long-time partner, Neil Sinclair, live in east London. How did money shape your upbringing? My mother and father, Pam and Bill, bought a house in Salisbury, but couldn't afford the mortgage, so they sold up and we moved into a caravan. We eventually got a house with no bathroom, just an outside lavatory and a tin bath that was dragged out on Mondays. It was a pretty frugal life, but I never wanted for anything. My parents worked very hard. My father sold motorcycles, and then cars and doubled as a motor mechanic, so he worked all hours. My mother worked in the cocktail bar at the Cathedral Hotel, which was a very swanky place back then. They also took in a lodger, Jock, who stayed for 11 years. They saved and saved, and my father's business thrived. The result was they could afford to send me to private school, installed a bathroom and the tin bath was jettisoned. What was your first job? When I left school, I went to Salisbury rep as an assistant stage manager on £2 a week, with my parents heavily subsidising me, paying for my transport and letting me live at home. I was an only child until age 18 when, as I was preparing to leave to go to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, my mother suddenly mentioned she was pregnant. I couldn't believe that one's parents still did it at that age! But I got my brother Sean out of it, which was lovely. They still helped with money for another two years. Did you think you'd make a living out of acting? No, never. But my father and mother were brilliant in supporting me from 16 to 20, so I could pursue a career on the stage. When I was 20, though, my father said I needed a backup, not least as they now had Sean. He knew I wasn't interested in motorbikes and cars, so he suggested we open an antiques shop, as we both liked bric-a-brac, which I'd run, and I could earn enough for a deposit. Did your career in antiques take off? Well, I'd sit in this shop and see no one all day, and then suddenly at five o'clock, there'd be a rush of about 15 people who all stole from you. So, that didn't seem like much of a job, and I gave it up for acting. Eventually, my father sold up, although he dabbled in bric-a-brac from the back of his garage for many years. I put all my energy into acting and have never looked back. I must add, my father was right, as he recognised how precarious a career acting is. No regrets? No, I've been very fortunate to be able to look back on a wonderful 60-odd-year career, but my father was right. When people come to me for advice about going into theatre, I always say don't do it because it's a horrible profession. I know so many brilliant actors who never got a break. It's all about being in the right place at the right time. What was your big break? Playing Lukewarm in Porridge, alongside Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale and David Jason. I was on £90 an episode, which was great in 1974. When it was repeated on BBC One or BBC Two, I used to get over £1,000 an episode. However, in a bad moment, the BBC decided to sell all these sitcoms to the free-to-air stations, which means I get nothing for the repeats. If we were in America, I'd be a multi-millionaire because you get repeat fees forever over there. Did having this part make you feel more financially secure? I was very lucky because when I was in Salisbury rep, I met two actors: Jonathan Cecil and Vivien Heilbron. They had a lovely house in Fulham, and gave me two rooms, a bedroom and a sitting room, and the use of a kitchen, all for £4 a week. As you can imagine, being on £90 an episode, I became readily accustomed to a style of living that I have maintained ever since. I had enough money to afford to eat out in restaurants regularly, and in those days, you could go to a restaurant in Covent Garden called Luigi's and have a bowl of pasta, a glass of red wine and a coffee for £6. I don't know how young people these days exist, because restaurants are so expensive. What's been your career highlight? Nero in I, Claudius was a wonderful part, a great experience, and to this day, I believe I was Nero in a previous life. Soon after that, I played the sex-crazed vicar in Poldark, which was also marvellous. But I think the most life-changing experience was winning I'm a Celebrity through the public vote, which gives you amazing confidence. I got paid £50,000 for doing it, much less than they get now, but it opened doors and it was a wonderfully lucrative period. I earned £1m in the year after the jungle. Where do you live? We have a very pretty three-bed house near Victoria Park in east London, which was designed by the architect Piers Gough. It's chock-full of artwork, so much so that we don't know the word wallpaper. We also have a one-bed flat in Stratford East, which we let. Although with all the associated costs, cladding problems and so on, we may sell. Are you a spender or a saver? I'm a spender, but as you get older, you realise you have what you need. You don't need another microwave. All you need is to have a nice life. I suppose the most expensive thing in our lives is going abroad on holiday. What's been your best financial decision? Buying this house. I paid £50,000 for it 36 years ago. It's worth considerably more now. Do you have a pension? I have the state pension, which I paid in over all those years, and that gives me enough to get by on, before I earn through the day job. I'm not saying pensioners are rich, but it does help, especially with the shocking water, gas and electricity bills. I have no private pension. Do you have any plans to retire? No. I am a bit like the Frank Sinatra of the pantomime world. I finish a run and think that's it, but I keep coming back, and will be on stage as King Richard in Robin Hood at the Birmingham Hippodrome this Christmas.
