Melanie Sykes has disclosed that her time on Celebrity MasterChef, particularly her interactions with Gregg Wallace, prompted her decision to step away from her TV career.
The 54-year-old presenter, known for her work on The Big Breakfast, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, and Let’s Do Lunch, last appeared on screens in 2021. After participating in the popular BBC cooking competition, Melanie has shifted her focus away from television.
In her autobiography, Illuminated, Melanie detailed an exchange with Wallace, 60, that she found unprofessional. She recounted how he greeted her by asking if models eat, a comment she described as being rooted in “ignorance and disrespect, with an extra helping of arrogance.”
Melanie also revealed that Wallace’s behavior on set included “barking orders” in a way that made her uncomfortable and ultimately led her to file an informal complaint. She described the atmosphere as “jaw-dropping” and added that his conduct diminished her enjoyment of the experience.
Discussing the incident further on a YouTube video, Melanie explained, “Every time Gregg came over to the desk, I didn’t like being around him—it’s all about vibrations and energy.”
At the conclusion of filming, Melanie recalled a conversation where Wallace suggested that her participation in the show would enhance her public profile. Instead of being reassured, she wrote that the moment solidified her decision to step away from television. “Yes, you have finally helped me decide to end my television career once and for all. I was done,” she reflected.
Following her departure from TV, Melanie relocated to Lancashire after filming a season of Shop Well for Less alongside Joanna Page.
Wallace, who has co-hosted MasterChef alongside John Torode for 20 years, recently stepped down amid allegations of inappropriate behavior spanning 17 years. Thirteen women have accused him of making inappropriate remarks, mimicking sexual acts, and other misconduct. Wallace and his legal team have denied all allegations.
In a social media statement, Wallace initially dismissed the accusations as coming from “middle-class women of a certain age” but later issued an apology, citing stress as the reason behind his comments.
Source My Celebrity Life.
