Exclusive:
Gregg was working with professors from the university’s Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour to investigate the health benefits of weight loss – but the project has now been dropped after allegations emerged
Gregg Wallace has been dropped by a university after allegations of “highly inappropriate behaviour.”
The MasterChef star, 60, was announced as an official academic research partner at Loughborough University in January. But university officials have now made the decision to distance themselves from him in light of the BBC ’s misconduct probe.
A Loughborough University spokesperson told The Mirror: “The University has no planned activities with Gregg Wallace whilst the allegations against him are investigated.”
And today the institution removed article about the collaboration from its website. The presenter – who runs obesity programme Gregg Wallace Health – teamed up with professors at Loughborough’s Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour to investigate the health benefits of weight loss.
Speaking when he first started working with the university, Gregg said last year: “I’m delighted to be working with such a prestigious organisation as Loughborough University. I’m incredibly proud that they see such promise in our efforts to help people lead healthier lives. I’m sure with the help of Loughborough GWH can have a huge impact.”
Loughborough’s decision to drop the TV host comes after charity Ambitious About Autism announced it is longer working with him. Mr Wallace stepped down from hit BBC cooking show MasterChef last week amid accusations he made sexual comments towards staff and celebrity guests on a range of programmes over 17 years.
He was forced to apologise on Monday after posting a video that appeared to belittle and insult what he called “a handful of” accusers. He said: “I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused.
“I wasn’t in a good headspace when I posted it, I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it. It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out now, while this investigation is under way.”
Wallace faces allegations from 13 people across a range of shows over 17 years and MasterChef production company Banijay UK is now reviewing the complaints. His lawyers insist it is “entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
Wallace is said to be upset that his co-host John Torode has not spoken out in his defence. He has unfollowed Torode, 59, and his wife Lisa Faulkner, 52, on Instagram.
Downing Street has branded his remarks “inappropriate and misogynistic.” And Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held talks with BBC bosses about its complaints procedures. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The comments we have seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”
Asked if MasterChef should be taken off air, he said the decision was for the BBC. But Labour MP Rupa Huq, who is a member of the Commons Culture Committee, wants the programme to be temporarily pulled. She said: “If it’s on TV tonight, it looks like sort of he got away with it.”
TV presenter Melanie Sykes is the latest to speak out about Wallace ‘s “unprofessional” behaviour after working with him on Celebrity MasterChef. Sykes, 54, claimed Gregg greeted her on set by asking whether models eat, which she said she considered “unprofessional” and driven by “ignorance and disrespect with an extra helping of arrogance.”
Another former MasterChef contestant yesterday claimed Wallace made innuendos “constantly” during filming and one sexually inappropriate comment left her in tears. Jackie Kearney, who finished fourth in 2011, said: “He would comment on my legs, or comment on the skirts I was wearing. I felt like I wanted the ground to swallow me up. The humiliation and embarrassment.”
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