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Gregg Wallace confessed to being a football hooligan in his youth. (Image: BBC)
Gregg Wallace previously confessed to getting in trouble with the law as a self-confessed football “hooligan” during his youth.
The MasterChef presenter, who has stepped down from the BBC show amid an investigation into historical allegations of misconduct, said his South London football club had a “fierce reputation” and brushes with the police were a regular occurrence.
The 60-year-old told Zoo magazine in 2008: “I was brought up in Peckham and went to Millwall regularly. Some of my friends from school grew up to be hooligans. Millwall had a fierce reputation at the time, which was well deserved. They had a large percentage of people that were able to cause havoc!
“I got arrested for assault when I was 20...But my Millwall days are long behind me.
“I was a product of my area. Police were making hundreds of arrests at every home game back then. Getting nicked was like a social pastime!”
Gregg Wallace has a Millwall FC tattoo on his chest. (Image: Instagram)
While his “hooligan” days are behind him, Gregg’s support for the team is still strong. He has a large tattoo of the lion on the club’s crest on his chest.
It comes as the 60-year-old faces allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period.
Among the BBC News complainants is former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, who alleged he told jokes of a "sexualised nature" when she was competing on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
Wark told the outlet that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a "sexualised nature" in front of contestants and crew and that she felt they were "really, really in the wrong place".
BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter "talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans".
The TV star's lawyers say "it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature", BBC News reported.
Gregg Wallace has stepped away from MasterChef. (Image: Getty)
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Earlier on Thursday, it was announced that Wallace is "committed to fully co-operating" with an external review by MasterChef's production company, Banijay UK.
A statement said: "This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.
"Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.
"While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
"Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
"Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately."
Gregg Wallace thanks fans for 'support'
The statement added: "If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakupbanijayuk.com in confidence."
A BBC spokesman said: "We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
"We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
"Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them."
Wallace is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will transmit as planned, with the next episode due to air on Thursday.
English (US) ·