Gregg Wallace made an unexpected return to television this weekend, the first time since news of the alleged misconduct scandal broke. When Channel 5 aired a documentary with Gregg among the lineup, viewers were taken by surprise.
Alongside Laila Morse, Adam Henson, and Tomasz Schafernaker, he reminisced about the infamous Big Freeze of 2018 when temperatures plummeted to -10C due to a Siberian cold snap. However, not all viewers welcomed his appearance, with several expressing their displeasure on social platforms.
One viewer commented critically, “Gregg Wallace on Beast from the East? Bold move. His reputation’s already been through a storm.”
Another was upfront in their reaction: “Obviously C5 don’t give a f*** about what he’s done.”
Despite denying the allegations, Gregg has retreated from public life while an investigation into his conduct is underway. This particular broadcast on C5, slotted for viewing between 5pm and 6:15pm on Saturday January 11, comes after the BBC decided to put a hold on broadcasting his appearances until the issue is resolved, reports Edinburgh Live.
Twitter also saw comments about the decision, with one tweet reading, “Gregg Wallace on Beast from the East? Bold move. His reputation’s already been through a storm. #BeastFromTheEast #GreggWallace @channel5_tv.”
(Image: (Image: ITV))
One individual vented their upset, tweeting indignation mixed with empathy over the serious nature of the accusations against Wallace, suggesting they were indicative of a habitual pattern of misogynistic behaviour and sexual harassment of women at work. .
One viewer wrote: “Gregg went way too far before but this. His career is over,” highlighting the strength of public opinion. Meanwhile, Gregg’s departure from the BBC marks the end of an era for MasterChef, a show he has been a part of since 2005, presenting alongside John Torode.
An investigation by BBC News uncovered multiple allegations against Gregg, including claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour and disturbing text messages, leading to the separation.