Gregg Allan Wallace MBE born 17 October 1964 is an English broadcaster, entrepreneur, and writer, best known for co-presenting MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef, and MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC One and BBC Two. He has also contributed articles to various food magazines, including Good Food, Now, and Olive.
Gregg Wallace Biography 2024
Wallace was invited to co-present Veg Talk on BBC Radio 4 alongside Charlie Hicks. The show ran for seven years, with Andy Kershaw describing Wallace’s delivery as having a “fake, barrow-boy bonhomie.” He was the original host of Saturday Kitchen from 2002 until he was replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson in 2003. Wallace also presented Veg Out for the Discovery Channel and Follow That Tomato for The Food Channel, earning a Royal Television Society award for Best Lifestyle Programme in 2003.
In 2008 and 2009, Wallace hosted two editions of The Money Programme, exploring how the financial crisis was impacting the public’s views on food. In August 2013, he presented Supermarket Secrets, a BBC One programme examining supermarket food sourcing and distribution. That same year, he co-presented Harvest 2013, a three-part documentary documenting the progress of Britain’s vegetable, cereal, and fruit harvests. In 2013, Wallace began co-presenting Eat Well for Less? alongside Chris Bavin for BBC One. From 2015 to 2023, he co-presented Inside the Factory on BBC Two with Cherry Healey and Ruth Goodman.
Gregg Wallace Biography Details
| Born | Gregg Allan Wallace 17 October 1964 (age 60) Peckham, London, England |
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| Occupations | - Broadcaster
- entrepreneur
- writer
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| Years active | 2002–2024 |
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| Employer | BBC |
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| Television | - Saturday Kitchen
- MasterChef
- Eat Well for Less?
- Inside the Factory
- Time Commanders
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| Spouses | Christine Wallace (m. 1991; div. 1991) Denise Wallace (m. 1999; div. 2004) Heidi Wallace (m. 2011; div. 2012) Anne-Marie Sterpini (m. )
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| Children | 3 |
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| Website | greggwallace.com |
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Gregg Wallace Early Life
Gregg Wallace was born in Peckham, South London, on 17 October 1964. At the age of eight, he became a victim of sexual abuse. Wallace left school at 15 and began working as a warehouseman at Covent Garden Fruit and Veg Market. He eventually transitioned to selling vegetables at a stall and later worked as a salesman. Encouraged to start his own business, he founded George Allan’s Greengrocers in 1989, which grew to achieve a turnover of £7.5 million. In 2010, he opened Wallace & Co, a restaurant in Putney, London, where he also took on the role of director.
In 2012, he launched Gregg’s Bar & Grill in partnership with the Bermondsey Square Hotel. However, by August 2013, one of his companies, West Veg Limited, went into liquidation with debts exceeding £500,000. By 2014, both of his restaurants had closed, with Wallace & Co leaving suppliers owed £150,000.
Gregg Wallace Bio
Details | Information |
Birthdate | October 17, 1964 |
Birthplace | Peckham, London, England |
Early Job | Warehouseman at Covent Garden Fruit and Veg Market |
Initial Career Path | Sold vegetables at Covent Garden, then became a salesman |
Entrepreneurial Journey
Business Venture | Description |
George Allan’s Greengrocers | Founded in 1989, grew to a turnover of £7.5 million |
Wallace & Co | Restaurant opened in Putney in 2010 |
Gregg’s Bar & Grill | Joint venture in 2012 with the Bermondsey Square Hotel |
Broadcasting Career
TV Show | Role |
MasterChef | Co-presenter and judge |
Saturday Kitchen | Original presenter (2002-2003) |
Eat Well for Less? | Co-presenter with Chris Bavin |
Early Television Appearances
Program | Role |
Veg Talk | Co-presenter with Charlie Hicks |
Veg Out | Presenter for Discovery Channel |
Follow That Tomato | Presenter for The Food Channel |
Major Television Shows
Show | Role |
Inside the Factory | Co-presenter (2015-2023) |
Harvest 2013 | Co-presenter on BBC One |
Supermarket Secrets | Presenter |
Television Specials and Documentaries
Special/Documentary | Description |
Gregg Wallace’s Magical Christmas Market | Christmas special in Vienna (2019) |
Gregg Wallace’s Grand Christmas Adventure | Channel 5 special (2021) |
South Africa with Gregg Wallace | ITV series, showcasing South Africa (2021) |
Controversies
Incident | Description |
Zaleha Kadir Olpin’s Chicken Rendang | Refused to judge a dish, resulting in backlash |
Allegations of Misconduct | Investigation launched in 2024 regarding historical allegations |
Guest Appearances
Program | Role |
Strictly Come Dancing | Contestant (2014) |
Room 101 | Guest (2012) |
Who Do You Think You Are? | Subject (2012) |
Personal Life
Personal Detail | Information |
Marital Status | Married to Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2016 |
Children | 3, including a son diagnosed with autism in 2022 |
Favorite Football Club | Millwall |
Accolades and Recognition
Award | Year |
MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) | 2022 |
Royal Television Society Award | 2003 for Follow That Tomato |
Cookbooks
Title | Year |
Veg: The Greengrocer’s Cookbook | 2006 |
A Cook’s Year | 2008 |
Gregg’s Favourite Puddings | 2010 |
Other Television Projects
Show | Role |
Time Commanders | Presenter |
The Money Programme | Presenter (2008-2009) |
Business Ventures
Company | Description |
West Veg Limited | Company that folded in 2013 owing £500,000 |
Wallace & Co | Restaurant that owed £150,000 to suppliers in 2014 |
Philanthropy and Charity
Charity/Contribution | Description |
Food Security Advocacy | Advocate for food security and sustainability |
Public Engagement | Involved in numerous charitable events |
Media Personality
Show | Role |
An Extra Slice | Guest Panellist (2014) |
Celebrity Catchphrase | Contestant (2019) |
Future Projects
Upcoming Work | Description |
MasterChef (Post 2024) | Potential return to television after investigations |
Gregg Wallace Net Worth
Gregg Wallace’s net worth reportedly stands at £3.6 million.
Gregg Wallace Summary
Gregg Wallace career spans multiple fields, including broadcasting, entrepreneurship, and writing. He is known for his role as a judge on MasterChef and for presenting various food-related documentaries and series. Throughout his career, he has faced both recognition, such as receiving an MBE, and controversy, including allegations of misconduct in 2024. Despite challenges, Wallace continues to be a prominent figure in the UK media, with a lasting impact on food culture through television, books, and his business ventures.
