When was Gregg Wallace diagnosed with autism? Former Masterchef host breaks silence after being sacked from the show amid misconduct allegations
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Gregg Wallace (Photo: MasterChef)Former MasterChef UK host Gregg Wallace has released a public statement on July 14, 2025, after BBC officially fired him from the popular cooking show. For the unversed, in November 2024, Wallace was accused of sexual misconduct by 13 staff members from different shows.
Gregg Wallace announced in a now-deleted-statement on Instagram in April, 2025, that while BBC was investigating the allegations, he was diagnosed with autism. He claimed the network failed to "protect" him in a "dangerous" work environment.
Last week, over 50 alleged victims came forward, and BBC fired Wallace. The network is still conducting an external investigation. On Monday, Gregg Wallace posted his statement on Instagram, claiming his innocence. He stated that people "misread" his actions, and his autism diagnosis helped him figure out how to properly communicate with others.
"After nearly 20 years on the show, I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I've only recently begun to understand, may have been misread. I also accept that more could have been done, by others and by myself, to address concerns earlier. A late autism diagnosis has helped me understand how I communicate and how I'm perceived. I'm still learning," Wallace stated.
Wallace continued and stated that the show's production company, Banijay supported him in the last few months, however, BBC supposedly left him to be criticized by the media. He claimed the network allegedly chose to protect its legacy over protecting him.
Gregg Wallace shared he had suicidal thoughts because of the sexual misconduct allegations
In an interview with the Daily Mail on April 25, 2025, Wallace shared that he felt bad for his wife Anna-Marie Sterpini, and his mother, Mary Pettman, who passed away in March 2025, following a heart attack in her sleep.
Wallace said that his mother heard all the allegations before she passed away, and it displeased him. The former host claimed he often thought about suicide, and wondered about his wife getting the insurance money, as she didn't deserve to see him facing the public backlash.
"Nobody should be left on their own to face something like this. It's very difficult to explain the pressure unless you've been through it. I thought about suicide all the time. 'Is my insurance up to date? Will Anna get some money? She doesn't deserve this. It would be better if I wasn't here,'" he stated.
Gregg Wallace shared that when the alleged victims were coming forward with the allegations, he contacted his former MasterChef UK co-hosts Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing, and some other members of the show.
He claimed the accusations were from years ago, and he could not remember behaving in that manner, and everyone he talked to said they didn't notice him sexually harassing others.
"I think there has been a lot of misunderstanding of my intention, and so many of the complaints are from so long ago. There's a difference between what they think I said and what was actually said," Wallace stated.
According to Vulture's July 14, 2025, report, BBC released a statement regarding the upcoming season of MasterChef UK, which features Gregg Wallace. The network stated that the season was filmed last year, and they haven't decided whether it would be broadcast or not.
TOPICS: Gregg Wallace, MasterChef, MasterChef UK