Gregg Wallace denies he left BBC show Inside The Factory due to derogatory comments made to female staff about their weight’ as he insists claims are ‘inaccurate

TV chef Gregg Wallace has denied that he left the BBC show Inside The Factory in March due to inappropriate comments made towards female staff. 

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, the presenter, 58, stated that such claims were ‘inaccurate’. 

It was reported by The Times back in May that he had allegedly offended certain female staff members at the Nestlé UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a ‘friendly’ conversation. 

‘He was rude towards staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women,’ a source told the newspaper.

The comments were non-sexual but were deemed ‘inappropriate’ and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show.

Setting the record straight: Gregg Wallace, 58, denied to Good Morning Britain on Tuesday that he left BBC show Inside The Factory in March due to inappropriate comments made to female staff and insisted claims are ‘inaccurate’

Rumours: It was previously reported that Gregg allegedly offended certain female staff members at the Nestlé UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a ‘friendly’ conversation

‘He was given a talking-to and was appalled that he had caused such offence,’ the source added.

However host Richard Madeley gave the presenter a chance to clear up the rumours on the show as Gregg confirmed that ‘the reporting isn’t accurate.’

He revealed that there was an issue with Inside The Factory that prompted him to leave, but it was not for the reasons reported. 

‘There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn’t accurate. There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out.’ 

‘Offending people? No no. If you look at the headlines you can’t see a story that matches those headlines.’

Gregg also revealed that he also wanted to leave to help care for his three-year-old son Sid, who is autistic. 

Explaining his home situation, he revealed ‘I’ve got a little boy called Sid who at the moment is non-verbal, he is still in nappies, he’s got learning difficulties….Mum needed help there.’ 

He revealed that the demanding nature of the filming around the different factories across the country meant that it made sense to give it up. 

He concluded: ‘It’s completely inaccurate, I didn’t challenge it. There was an issue, I don’t want to discuss the issue but it wasn’t what the papers said it was. There was nothing offensive to anybody that’s just people guessing. It was a decent time to come out, I think.’ 

‘Inappropriate’: The comments were deemed ‘inappropriate’ and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show (pictured with co-host Cherry Healey)

He said: ‘There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn’t accurate. There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out’

Gregg added: ‘Offending people? No no. If you look at the headlines you can’t see a story that matches those headlines’

The star also chatted about the current series of Celebrity MasterChef, which has returned to the BBC for its 18th season this summer. 

Talking about his love for the show, Gregg revealed he still loves filming and meeting all the celebrities.   

‘It’s a great fun place to be and if you consider we’ve been there 20 years, I’ve been working with the same people for 20 years.’ 

Even the people who make the TV programme that you don’t see of course we’ve all grown up together, we’re all friends. It’s a fabulous place to be.’ 

He joked: ‘I have a reputation for doing rubbish gags and John Torode puts his head in his hands and goes “nearly 20 years of this!” It’s incredible isn’t it?’ 

The presenter turns 59 later this year and when asked if he can see the show going for 20 more years he teased: ‘I think what might happen is as I get older they might wheel me out for the quarter finals and the semi finals, I think I might be making guest appearances!’ 

‘It’s a fabulous place to be’: The judge expressed his love for the show as he explained they are all such good friends after working together for 20 years 

Getting older: The star joked: ‘I think what might happen is as I get older they might wheel me out for the quarter finals and the semi finals’

They’re back: This series marks the 18th series of BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef

Supporting his son: Gregg revealed he also left the show to dedicate more time to caring for his autistic son Sid, three (pictured with his wife Anna and son in 2021) 

Gregg also made headlines earlier this month after his Channel 4 mockumentary The British Miracle Meat was hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints.

The programme claimed to be about a factory which manufactured ‘engineered human meat’ for the purpose of consumption, however viewers weren’t sure whether the disturbing investigation was real while watching it on July 24 and some complained to Ofcom.

The broadcasting regulator confirmed to MailOnline it had received 393 complaints which mainly objected to the theme of the mockumentary.

The satirical show had meant to investigate an alternative to soaring food prices, with Gregg investigating a controversial new lab-grown meat product made from human meat for humans to eat.

However, there was no warning given ahead or during the broadcast to reassure viewers that it was fictional. 

Confused and ‘disgusted’ viewers took to Twitter as the programme debuted, criticising Channel 4 for airing a show in such ‘very poor taste’.

Complaints: Gregg’s disturbing ‘human meat’ mockumentary for Channel 4 was met with hundreds of Ofcom complaints by ‘disturbed’ fans after it was aired on July 24

Just a spoof: Gregg appeared on the satirical programme which purported to be about a factory which manufactured ‘engineered human meat’ for the purpose of consumption by humans due to the cost of living crisis 

‘Are you watching the British miracle meat on channel 4…it’s got to be a joke?! Human meat,’ one tweeted.

‘Who is watching Gregg Wallace, The British Miracle Meat, I feel sick.’ another echoed.

One viewer added: ‘What the fresh h**l are we being subjected to on @Channel4 now?’

Others – in an apparent joking manner – claimed that ‘if enough people vote Tory’ they will end up selling their flesh for money. And some even pointed to Brexit as the reason a ‘process banned in the EU’ would be permitted in the UK.

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