Gregg Wallace warned against 'picking women like cars' before fourth marriage

Before Gregg Wallace found the love of his life in his younger wife Anne-Marie, he spoke candidly about his struggle to maintain long-lasting relationships because he would 'pick women like he picked cars'

Gregg Wallace once revealed the reason he's had 'so many girlfriends' and his surprising dating rule before finding The One.

The television chef, 60, has stepped down as host of MasterChef, it was announced yesterday, amid an investigation into his alleged misconduct. Wallace has been accused of making inappropriate sexual comments by 13 people. He has denied the claims and is "committed to fully cooperating through the process".

Away from the cameras, Gregg is married to his wife, Anne-Marie Sterpini, 37, who he calls Anna, and they share a four-year-old son called Sid. He also had two older children from his second marriage. Gregg has spoken on numerous occasions about Anna being his soulmate, and how he dated a lot of ladies before he found her.

In a now-resurfaced interview with Mail Online in 2021, Gregg spoke about being married four times and his single periods in between. He shared how he would choose women to date like he chose cars to drive, and how this caused problems on his quest for love.

Gregg said he only dated beautiful women who made him feel "like riding in my Jag with the roof down" when he walked into restaurants with them. But his therapist told him that he would never find true happiness if he kept picking women like he picked cars, he said.

Three years ago, 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?"

In another interview, Gregg shared how he struggled to meet women spontaneously in person and form romantic relationships because of his fame. He said on the White Wine Question Time podcast: "It is because I am on television. I can't walk into bars. You can't chat anyone up at work because the HR department would sack you."

He went on to share his love for Twitter, because "you can just have friendly chats with people". While he said it wasn't a dating site, the social media platform worked for him as he met his third wife, Heidi Brown, on Twitter and married her in 2010. They separated after just 15 months of marriage.

But then Twitter pulled through again when he got chatting with Anna about rhubarb. Speaking on the same podcast, Gregg said: "What has love taught me? That it is an absolute game of chance and that is it. It is a complete and utter lottery. I am very fortunate I got the winning ticket. I won the Euro Millions the day that young lady walked into my life. She popped up on my timeline on Twitter."

The father-of-three married his first wife, Christine, in 1991, but their marriage only lasted six weeks. Then he tied the knot with former pastry chef Denise, whom he had two children, Tom and Libby, with. He is still close with them now and they were even at the birth of his youngest son, Sid.

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."