Gregg Wallace has never shied away from talking about his age-gap relationship with his wife Anne-Marie.
Known by her husband as Anna, the 38-year-old is standing by the disgraced MasterChef host amid a string of damning allegations into his alleged behaviour and this week was papped defiantly wearing her wedding ring. Last week Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, announced Wallace would be stepping away from his role on the BBC cooking show after complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct.
Now, the 60-year-old faces fresh claims of harassment, including touching a woman's bottom at an event and pressing his crotch against another one while filming a show. And as of last night, ghostwriter Shannon Kyle alleged he touched her bottom during a television appearance while she was writing Wallace's memoir Life On A Plate. In another alleged incident, Ms Kyle alleged Wallace gave her "thigh a rub" every time he changed gears in his sports car, she told BBC Newsnight.
The writer, who was 35 at the time, also claimed Wallace dropped his towel in front of her after she arrived at his home to work on the book. A statement from Wallace's lawyers to BBC News said: "Our client has denied that he has engaged in any such behaviour, and he specifically denies any sexual misconduct with Ms Kyle."
His lawyers previously said it was "entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature". Wallace has since said he is going offline after he was forced to apologise for any 'offence' after he said claims were being made by a 'middle-class woman of a certain age'. He has been with Anna, with whom he shares a four-year-old son named Sid, for just over a decade, and they tied the knot in 2016.
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Adam Gerrard / Sunday Mirror)After Sid was born in May 2019, Gregg went on Loose Women, where he spoke about his and Anna's 22-year age gap. Panellist Judi Love asked him what it was like to be an older dad, to which Gregg joked: "Baby Sid. You haven't met Mrs Wallace but I was really pleased she had a baby because it's someone at home more her own age to talk to."
Before finding his 'soulmate' in Anna, Gregg endured three other failed marriages, with one lasting just six weeks. Wife number three was biology teacher Heidi Brown, whom he met on Twitter - the same way he connected with Anna. The couple separated in 2012, just 14 months after saying 'I do' at a no-expenses spared wedding ceremony.
Gregg didn't mince his words when discussing his failed marriage to Heidi, having once described the relationship as a "huge mistake". The outspoken BBC star said: "[It was] probably the unhappiest I have ever been in my life but she was a teacher and was really good with the kids". Gregg had two children with his second wife, Denise Lovall.
A string of flings with 'beautiful' women followed the break-up with Heidi, causing Gregg's therapist to issue him with a stark warning. The telly star told the Daily Mail that after yet another failed marriage, he only wanted to date women who made him feel 'like riding in my Jag with the roof down' when he walked into restaurants with them.
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Empics)But his therapist told him he'd never find happiness if he kept choosing women like cars, he said. In 2021, Gregg shared: "The reason I had so many girlfriends was that I was always looking for somebody. I think it's an absolute game of chance. What are the chances of finding somebody who you're not only attracted to and makes you feel comfortable and happy, but is actually looking for what you have to offer?"
Luckily for him, Twitter pulled through again when he got chatting with now-wife Anna about rhubarb in 2013. Appearing on Good Morning Britain in January this year, Gregg praised Anna for changing his life. He said: "That young woman has revolutionised my life, there's a 22-year age gap, we have been together ten years and have a son, Sid, and I want to be there for them."
The couple's unusual living arrangement has raised eyebrows, as the TV judge revealed they live with Anna's parents, Rina and Massimo, in his £1million Kent mansion. His in-laws help around the house, often cook tea and even sleep with Sid in their room for half the week so Gregg and Anna get a break.
During a chat with The Telegraph, Gregg said: "I'm a much better father now I'm older, although another child isn't something that I would have chosen at my age. I was always very honest with Anna, but it's what she wanted and I love her. I just requested two things – that we had help in the house (so her mum moved in), and secondly, that we had at least one week a year when we holidayed just the two of us."
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