Gregg Wallace to sell £1m home and quit Britain for Italy after BBC MasterChef axe

Lydia Davies
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:31:32 +0000

Gregg Wallace has announced his intention to put his £1million Kent property on the market and potentially spend half the year in Italy following his dismissal from BBC MasterChef.

The 61-year-old television presenter shared his plans on social media on Sunday, explaining that he wishes to purchase a smaller home and reduce his workload.

"I can't have the life I used to have but whether you chose to believe it or not, I really wanted to come out of it anyway," Mr Wallace stated in the emotional video.

The former MasterChef host emphasised his desire to secure his family's future, noting he has "a wife that is much younger than me and a special needs little boy, Sid."

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Mr Wallace expressed his love for Italy, describing the country as "one fantastic restaurant" and revealing long-held plans to retire there.

The former presenter was removed from his position by the BBC in July 2025 after an investigation into his conduct on the cookery programme.

He had stepped away from MasterChef in November 2024 while the allegations were being examined.

The subsequent review found 45 of the 83 complaints against him to be substantiated, with the majority relating to incidents between 2005 and 2018.

Mr Wallace had been a fixture on the show since 2005, when he began co-presenting alongside John Torode.

Following the investigation's findings, the chef issued an apology, stating he was "deeply sorry for any distress caused" and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate."

His co-presenter Mr Torode also departed the programme after a separate allegation concerning the use of "an extremely offensive racist term" was upheld.

Mr Wallace is now pursuing legal action against the BBC, with his legal team characterising his treatment as a "terrible injustice."

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A post shared by Gregg Wallace MBE (@greggawallace)

Speaking to The Mirror, he explained: "There is a legal team around me now, and I can't say too much.

"They have picked it up and gone: 'This is a terrible injustice. A terrible, terrible injustice.'"

His lawyers have questioned why he faces such consequences when the investigation cleared him of groping, flashing, sexual harassment and bullying.

Mr Wallace is seeking unredacted copies of his personal data from the corporation relating to his employment, contractual matters and conduct, which he claims the BBC has not provided.

This action could potentially lead to further litigation against the broadcaster.

He had previously filed High Court proceedings seeking up to £10,000 in damages but discontinued this claim in February, receiving no payment from the BBC.

Mr Wallace received an autism diagnosis at the beginning of last year, which he believes is highly relevant to his case.

The independent inquiry into MasterChef acknowledged his neurodiversity as a significant factor and noted how he used humour to mask his condition.

He has argued that the demanding atmosphere of television studios, combined with his autism, led to errors in judgement.

"When you say something funny, people around you are laughing, like the cameramen and the directors, and so you think it's okay," Mr Wallace explained.

The TV host has claimed his suspected neurodiversity was discussed by colleagues across numerous series, yet never formally investigated or accommodated.

However, Dan Harris, founder of Neurodiversity in Business and himself autistic, cautioned that "autism is not a free pass for bad behaviour," warning that such arguments risk stigmatising the autistic community.