Gregg Wallace

Gregg Allan Wallace was born on October 17, 1964, in Peckham, South London. He developed an early interest in the food industry, leaving school at 15 to work as a warehouseman at Covent Garden Fruit and Veg Market. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish George Allan’s Greengrocers in 1989, a company that eventually achieved a turnover of £7.5 million. This early success in business provided the foundation for his later career in broadcasting and solidified his expertise in the food sector.

Wallace transitioned into broadcasting in the late 1990s, co-presenting ‘Veg Talk’ on BBC Radio 4 from 1998 to 2005. His television career began with ‘Saturday Kitchen’ in 2002, followed by shows like ‘Veg Out’ for the Discovery Channel and ‘Follow That Tomato’ for The Food Channel, which earned him a Royal Television Society award in 2003. His most significant role began in 2005 as co-presenter and judge of the BBC’s ‘MasterChef’, alongside John Torode, a position he held until 2024. He also co-presented ‘Eat Well for Less?’ for BBC One and ‘Inside the Factory’ for BBC Two, further establishing his presence in British food television.

Throughout his career, Wallace achieved multiple milestones, including opening his restaurants, Wallace & Co in Putney (2010), and Gregg’s Bar & Grill (2012). Although these ventures later folded, they showcased his dedication to the culinary world. He frequently made guest appearances on various television shows, including ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (2014), ‘Room 101’ (2012), and ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ (2012). His contributions to food and charity were recognized with an MBE in the 2022 Birthday Honours. While his career has been marked by professional success, it has also recently included investigations into allegations of misconduct, leading to his departure from ‘MasterChef’ in 2024.