Downcast Gregg Wallace returns to the UK with wife after last-minute Italy trip amid BBC probe

TV star Gregg Wallace looked rather tense as he landed back in the UK with wife Anne-Marie Sterpini following a last-minute trip to Italy amid the controversy surrounding his alleged inappropriate workplace behaviour

MasterChef star Gregg Wallace has returned to the UK with wife Anne-Marie Sterpini after a four-day trip to Italy.

The couple reportedly booked the last-minute getaway after a recent investigation into Wallace's alleged inappropriate workplace comments. However, Gregg, 60, and his wife, 39, appeared to look rather tense as they arrived back in the UK following their trip.

The MasterChef star looked rather strained as he was pictured at the airport with Anne-Marie on Monday.

The TV star appeared to have caught a tan on his getaway to Italy, but had a rather solemn look on his face as he navigated his way out of the airport. Gregg wore a navy zip-up jacket and paired it with a navy cap as he traveled back from Italy.

Meanwhile his wife, who is 21 years his junior, went for a makeup-free look as she allowed her natural beauty to shine. Brunette beauty Anne-Marie slicked her locks into a low ponytail and donned a beige trench coat as she walked alongside her famous husband.

Earlier this month, Wallace found himself in hot water amid reports he was investigated for making inappropriate remarks to a female BBC employee. Back in 2018, the TV personality was called out for shedding his shirt and boasting about intimate encounters, and the details have now come to light.

According to The Sun, 'red flags' regarding Wallace's behaviour were raised some six years past on the BBC game show Impossible Celebrities when he allegedly made "inappropriate sexual comments" towards a female staffer.

The BBC will now face a host of new questions on why the MasterChef star was allowed to keep his job in the corporation - despite BBC bosses promising to sort out the workplace culture after a string of recent scandals.

They have stated: "The BBC say they are keen to clear up issues around workplace culture but have allowed Gregg to remain on a flagship show despite allegations about his conduct.

"There are questions to be asked about the decision to allow Gregg to continue on MasterChef despite these previous incidents." Wallace was reportedly received strict instructions to amend his behaviour."

Relaying further details, the source added: "The BBC took immediate action and Gregg was called in to have a meeting with them. He made it clear that he didn't mean anything by what he said but he was read the riot act and told to change his behaviour."

However, Wallace has continued to deny the accusations made against him. He recently took to Instagram to deny his comments were sexual.

He said: "With reference to what's in the newspapers, these allegations were investigated by the BBC six years ago - and my comments were found to be not sexual. I repeat not sexual. Thank you for your time."

He then returned to social media and added: "Something else that I feel very strongly about, strong enough to be on here, nobody six years ago or since has accused me of flirting with anybody or hitting on anybody. And that's important to me, and I say this for my wife Anna, who I've been true to and madly in love with since the day I met her.

"I don't want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that and I never have."

The Mirror has approached Gregg's representatives for comment on this story.

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