Shamed Gregg Wallace was ‘constantly inappropriate’ to Scots TV star on Masterchef – Daily Record
Jean Johansson has revealed host Gregg Wallace was “constantly inappropriate” when she appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef. The A Place in The Sun star told how shocked she was during filming in 2018 and how it was obvious that the crew, directors and producers were used to his behaviour. But it was only while promoting the show and chatting off-camera to Kirsty Wark, who had been a contestant in 2011, that she found out the same had happened to her. Newsnight star Kirsty last week confirmed she is one of 13 women who have complained about Wallace and his “sexualised language”.
Jean said: “I remember quite a few moments in our interactions when I was thinking they’ll never use this (on TV) because the things he was saying were so off colour. “I consider myself someone who loves to laugh, I’m adaptable to new working environments and I can handle different personalities but I was shocked by some of Gregg’s ‘banter’. He’s arrogant, loud and self important, the type of guy who cracks up at his own one liners. “He wasn’t at all what I expected as I’ve always found his on screen persona likeable and fun but in real life he was dismissive, rude and knew exactly when to turn it on for the cameras.”
“It was also obvious to me that that the crew and directors and producers were used to it. “They know the star of their show so they acted like it was completely normal. “And therein lies a big part the problem.” Jean, who was 37 when she took part alongside singer Frankie Bridge, ex-Eastender John Partridge and reality star Spencer Matthews, said she’s speaking out after Wallace said the women complaining were “middle class and of a certain age”. The mum of one said: “I’m working class and younger than the women who have taken issue with his conduct yet I can concur he was massively unprofessional and was constantly inappropriate. “I don’t like what he’s implying about the people who have spoken up. “He’s trying to bunch them all into a group bizarrely suggesting class and age has something to do with taking offence but the one thing they all have in common is that they’re extremely bright and successful women who could see through the TV’s nice guy act within seconds.”
Among those who have spoken out is radio presenter Aasmah Mir, who appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017. She said she raised a complaint with Banijay, the production company that makes the show. She said she also spoke to the BBC’s then-controller of entertainment commissioning Kate Phillips. The BBC has reported that, in a letter from 2018, Phillips wrote that she had spoken to Wallace for 90 minutes to make clear what the BBC expected of him. Jean, who grew up in Port Glasgow, said that those within the industry who enable this kind of behaviour must be held to account. She added: “The BBC should be on top of making sure the set on Celebrity Masterchef is professional and pleasant at all times.”
Insights and Summary:
Jean Johansson, a former contestant on Celebrity Masterchef, has spoken out about the inappropriate behavior of host Gregg Wallace during filming in 2018. Wallace has been accused by multiple women, including Newsnight star Kirsty Wark, of using “sexualised language” on the show. Johansson highlighted Wallace’s dismissive and rude attitude, contrasting it with his on-screen persona. She expressed disappointment in Wallace’s attempt to downplay the complaints based on class and age. The incident underscores the need for accountability in addressing unprofessional conduct in the industry.