Penny Lancaster has broken her silence on husband Rod Stewart’s dig at Gregg Wallace

Penny Lancaster has claimed she was ‘victim to bullying and harrassment’ by Gregg Wallace as she spoke about the scandal for the first time on Loose Women today.

The model and ITV panelist spoke out after her husband Sir Rod Stewart unleashed a furious post about MasterChef host Gregg following allegations about his conduct on the BBC cooking show.

Last month, Sir Rod alleged the TV presenter had “humiliated” his wife when she was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. Rod spoke out following the news Gregg had stepped away from the BBC programme while a review is conducted into historical complaints about his behaviour.

In his full statement, Sir Rod raged: “So Greg Wallace gets fired from Masterchef. Good riddance Wallace…You humiliated my wife when she was on the show but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart.”

Penny revealed she ‘didn’t realise’ Rod had made his post until she saw it, but agreed that Gregg ’caused distress’ on set ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Langan’s)

Penny told ITV ’s Loose Women today: “I didn’t realise my husband had sent that post out until it was out. And of course, you can imagine the influx of inquiries there were. I most definitely was witness and victim to some of the bullying and harassment behaviour of Gregg Wallace and, unfortunately, a lot of those involved in the production team were also witness to that.

“And I really feel that he used his position of power to, I believe, intimidate and cause distress to a lot of people on set. And it’s really unfortunate that someone like him is allowed to get away with that, and while others sort of stand by and let it happen at the same time.”

Penny said she was ‘in shock’ by her husband’s scathing digs.

The model admitted: “I felt a little bit vindicated that something was put out there, going back to sort of that whole Me Too [movement], it’s shocking to think how many women do suffer in the hands of men in a powerful position and are too afraid to talk out.” She concluded: “They don’t feel at the time that they’re going to be supported or listened to. So sometimes it can take a few years later for someone to mention something. It gives the other victims and people that have suffered the confidence to come forward.”

Gregg was placed under investigation last month due to historic complaints that he’d made “sexual comments” on set of MasterChef, with Newsnight host Kirsty Wark among several people who have accused the MasterChef presenter of making inappropriate sexual comments or jokes.

The BBC host stepped down from MasterChef a couple of weeks ago due to the investigation, but responded to the accusations with a series of posts on Instagram. In his posts, Gregg vehemently denied having taken part in any wrongdoing.

With Gregg’s future on the show up in the air, rumours have emerged that MasterChef’s production company, Banijay, might already be trying to edit him out of pre-filmed episodes. Insiders claimed that editing footage might be a more pleasing option than scrapping footage at a major cost.

The next series of MasterChef, which will feature amateur chefs as opposed to the celebrity and professional spin-offs, has already been filmed, and is set to air next year. One BBC insider claimed that Banijay could still use the footage rather than ditching it or retaping, and simply crop Gregg out of wide shots while canning footage of him alone. “John and Gregg were always shot with separate cameras. Any two shots, or wide shots containing the pair can be cut. Removing Gregg entirely is a difficult task, but not an impossible one,” a source told the Daily Mail.

Amid the confusing time, the BBC announced last week that they’d decided to drop the MasterChef Christmas specials from its roster. The broadcaster previously announced a Celebrity MasterChef Cook Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza as part of its festive schedule, both billed as hour-long programmes for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

BBC bosses previously said the corporation will not “tolerate behaviour that falls below the standards we expect” and will continue to champion “a culture that is kind, inclusive and respectful”.

A memo sent to staff by the BBC director-general, Tim Davie, and Charlotte Moore, chief content officer, said the corporation would be supporting MasterChef producer Banijay UK in its investigation.

Last week, Wallace apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”, adding he will “take some time out”.

Lawyers for Wallace have previously strongly denied “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, according to BBC News.