GREGG Wallace finally sat down for his big mea culpa chat last week, five months after a tsunami of shock allegations came to light about his inappropriate behaviour on Masterchef.
It was sympathetic to the disgraced host but, as someone who has seen both of sides – it also gave away his fatal flaw.
When I interviewed him for the first time face to face six years ago, alongside , I witnessed his charm in action.
And looking back, since he even proudly flashed me his new-found abs, during the chat, delighted with his three-and-a-half stone weight loss, I wonder if he was being flirtatious. He couldn't hide his pride at his fitter, younger bod.
Back to this week's tell all, at this point it’s hard not to question whether the cancelled celeb du jour has a whole playbook in place, and seemingly 60-year-old Gregg had gone all out.
His dutiful (fourth) wife , standing by him, of course, wrapping her arms around him like a human shield, his in tatters, his late mother passing away earlier this year, before he had a chance to clear his name, and a new diagnosis of , which he, says, explains a lot.
It paints a sympathetic picture of the star, who until last year, was publicly one of the most stable jewels in the crown, alongside his co-host .
But what of the who bravely stepped forward about historical allegations of misconduct as part of the BBC’s ongoing investigation?
And what of his ill-fated initial knee-jerk video reaction blaming “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age?”;
But I have also spoken to a number of his ex colleagues who insist there is a darker side to him.
My experience was February 2019 and and John were promoting their upcoming series of and I had a sit down chat with the pair at their plush TV production studio offices.
I was a bit nervous as I had heard of Gregg’s hot-headed reputation, having covered his numerous marriage splits and even a bar brawl in 2013 when another man allegedly made a suggestive comment to his now-missus.
But in comparison to quiet and softly spoken John, was a ball of energy and in the mood for a natter and torso reveal. I think he was showing off, but it proves he was comfortable with his body.
Excited about his weight loss he said: “I go to the gym five days a week and I really enjoy it.
“I really feel gross if I don’t go. I would like to do a diet book, I think if I continue with this fitness I may be able to make money out of this when I'm in my sixties.”
Referencing his slew of topless snaps on social media he said: “A lot of my fans on instagram are female, but there’s as many pictures of my pregnant wife on there as there are of my abs, it’s clear that I’m very much in love with my wife.”;
Gregg was the star of the show, people were scared of him
He opened up to me about getting the hump with work hubby John saying: “A couple of times last series I went into John’s dressing room and said, ‘Sorry about being grumpy and by the way it wasn’t anything to do with you, it was me.”;
But one former crew member told me that it was hard to stand up to Gregg on set when he was making jokes and exercising his bravado.
‘Crude jokes'
I’m told: “Gregg was the star of the show, people were scared of him.
“They were worried that if they didn’t smile and laugh at his crude jokes they’d lose their jobs.
“The TV industry is notoriously competitive and unstable, if you’re lucky enough to get stable employment the last thing you’re going to do is start throwing your weight around and complaining about the most important person on set.”;
Outrageously in the interview Gregg goes on to ADMIT to slipping a sock onto a his manhood after filming and insisting that his female co-star found the gag hilarious claiming:“Monica says it’s one of the funniest things she’s ever seen.”;
She also quipped that working with Gregg was enough to give anyone grey hair.
In part he questions whythe alarm wasn’t raised sooner when it came to his on set behaviour, but he fails to recognise that he was in a huge position of power as the talent on huge production.
Indeed, why showrunners, bosses and even his co-stars never pulled him up on it, does raise alarms.
Newsnight host accused Gregg of telling ‘sexualised’ jokes during the filming of in 2011.
He recalls quaffing bubbles with Kirsty at the final and “sharing jokes”; but perhaps he was too ignorant to realise she didn;t find it funny.
Missing the mark entirely Gregg denies that the alleged sex act he discussed with as not being his cup of tea, NOT that the idea of discussing any sex act in a professional workplace environment with a completestranger would have most people hauled into HR, regardless of your preference.
Having amassed a personal fortune of around £5m from telly and books the greengrocer from Peckham hasn’t done badly.
Maybe he should quit while he’s ahead, hold his hands up, apologise for being a sexually inappropriate dinosaur and enjoy his retirement.
Even if offer Gregg a lifeline in the form of a desert island reality show, a la , I fear no-one will watch. He’s toast.
