Gregg Wallace’s ‘jaw-dropping’ comment that made Melanie Sykes quit TV

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Gregg Wallace reportedly made a comment to Melanie Sykes on Celebrity MasterChef that led her to decide to leave television for good.

The television host participated in a cooking contest in 2021 and reached the semi-finals. However, Sykes later filed an informal complaint against Wallace, who has since “distanced himself” from the program amid accusations of making inappropriate remarks.

Following the revelations about the scandal, multiple celebrities who participated in Celebrity MasterChef, such as ex-Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark and Geordie Shore's Charlotte Crosby, have spoken out against the host for comments they reportedly heard during filming. Katy Brand also shared her experience of receiving a "vulgar" remark from the former host.

In her autobiography, Illuminated, released in 2023, Sykes expressed her criticism of her experience on Celebrity MasterChef. This was a year before the announcement of the investigation into Wallace, which was made public last month.

In her book, Sykes recounted that Wallace questioned her about whether models eat as she was arriving on set, which Sykes considered to be "unprofessional."

The television figure, who previously co-hosted a daytime program alongside Des O’Connor, stated that the comment was fueled by “ignorance, disrespect, and a touch of arrogance.”

In her book, Sykes shared that the MasterChef experience was quite enlightening, and she found some of the unprofessional conduct on set to be astonishing.

However, it was a discussion with Wallace after filming wrapped up that led her to firmly decide to leave the television industry for good.

In her writings for Illuminated, Sykes, a familiar face on television since the 1990s, mentioned that Wallace advised her that participating in Celebrity MasterChef could benefit her career.

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"I was at a loss for words, so I just smiled and replied, 'Yes,' but inside, I was really thinking, 'Yes, you've finally pushed me to quit my TV career for good,'” Sykes shared, noting: “I was finished."

After completing her filming obligations for the series Shop Well for Less, Sykes followed through on her promise and moved to Lancashire.

In a YouTube video posted on Monday, December 1, Sykes expressed her dislike for Wallace's presence, implying that he brought negative vibes.

She also condemned the television industry for not addressing and putting an end to inappropriate conduct by prominent celebrities.

"I understand that many people believe that we can't let him go since the show is doing so well. There's a certain apprehension about altering the format because they worry it might turn viewers away," she stated.

Sykes shared that she expressed her concerns about Wallace, explaining, “I mentioned that I didn’t want to file a formal complaint because, to be honest, pursuing that route would consume all my time with legal battles, and I believe that's why many people choose not to take action.”

The BBC addressed the claims against Wallace by stating: "We take all concerns seriously and have strong procedures to handle them. We make it clear that we will not accept any conduct that does not meet the BBC's expected standards."

"When someone is hired directly by an outside production company, we communicate any issues or concerns to that company, and we are always there to assist them in resolving these matters."