News

MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has stepped away amid misconduct investigation

This comes after an incident back in 2018 was brought to the forefront earlier this year.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 28th November 2024

MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has officially stepped away from his role on the show following recent reports surrounding allegations of misconduct.

A new series of complaints regarding Wallace’s historical behaviour have now been made to the BBC, with the 60-year-old having only just denied claims he made “sexual” comments to a younger female colleague back in 2018 a month ago.

While that particular instance is alleged to have taken place while on the set of Impossible Celebrities, with one woman accusing the household name of removing his shirt and openly boasting about his sex life, this decision comes after a number of other historical incidents were flagged.

It is said that 13 different people – one of those being fellow veteran BBC presenter, Kirsty Wark – have complained about inappropriate sexual comments on various projects across a 17-year period.

Wallace will now leave the popular cooking show after the best of two decades alongside co-presenter John Torrode, having joined the show all the way back in 2005.

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Issuing an official statement following his departure, the show’s production company Banijay UK told PA (Press Association) news agency: “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 [MasterChef] producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.”

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BBC veteran Wark, 69, told the corporation that he made a number of remarks that were of a “sexualised nature” in front of contestants and crew during a season of Celebrity MasterChef back in 2011, strongly insisting that she fell the comments were “really, really in the wrong place”.

The Peckham-born TV personality has now been “stepped away” from the job while a full investigation is carried out, with Banijay assuring that their “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.”

The company have assured that while the issues weren’t initially raised at the time they were said to have occurred, they are now being taken very seriously, as well as urging others to come forward with any issues or concerns.

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Prior to landing the job on MasterChef, ‘Gregg the Veg’ was a greengrocer in Covent Garden before ultimately opening his own restaurant, Wallace and Co, in Putney.

The site was ultimately closed just after the Christmas break back in 2013 after he was forced to sell its parent company, Wallace Cafes.

As for the current investigation, he is said to be “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.”

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Featured Images — BBC (screenshot)

News

Manchester company set to rescue beloved tea brand Typhoo from administration

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester vape company could save Typhoo from administration

Beloved British tea brand Typhoo has unfortunately fallen into administration after 121 years but a Manchester company could be set to save it from the jaws of insolvency.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest and best-known brands in the UK, not to mention the teabag of choice for millions up and down the country, Typhoo is a household name to most and has been a mainstay in supermarkets and newsagents for longer than we’ve been alive.

Despite its long-standing reputation and catering to a market of obsessive tea drinkers who aren’t going anywhere, the brew business has proved difficult for them, with a steady decline in sales and increasing losses year on year, as well as levels of debt creeping up to a now unsustainable point.

Financial advisory firm Kroll has now been appointed to handle the administration and find a buyer for the tea business, with a Manchester-headquartered company currently believed to be the frontrunner.

Supreme PLC is London-listed but has a HQ in Manchester.
The old Tyhpoo factory which closed last year.
Typhoo could be pulled back from the brink of administration. (Credit: Supreme via Facebook)/Rept0n1x via Wikimedia Commons)

Typhoo has been struggling to keep a foothold in the tea markets in recent years – suffering a significant setback when its Merseyside factory on the Wirral was broken into back in August 2023 – however, they have now been given a lifeline by a company just down the road in Stretford.

According to industry news outlet, Proactive Investors, vape and battery distributors Supreme Imports (based over in Trafford Park) are now said to be in ‘advanced talks’ to buy the tea brand and save it from going belly up after well over a century on our shelves.

The Bristol-based veterans were acquired by Zetland Capital back in 2021 which looked to have stabilised finances for a little while, but despite steadying the ship in the immediate, the last three years have seen a return to turbulent times.

While administration should keep them afloat while a sale is secured, there is still the matter of sizeable debt to be contested with; as of September last year, Typhoo owed more than £73 million to creditors – a whole £20m more than the previous year. In contrast, Supreme recently posted pe-tax profits of £14.7m.

Meanwhile, serious dips in revenue haven’t helped, with losses of around 25% recorded in the previous financial year and the closure of the Moreton plant (which contributed to approximately £24.1m worth of “exceptional costs”) leaving them at risk of going total collapse. It isn’t the heavyweight it once was.

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Conversely, with a diverse portfolio including not only vapes and batteries but lightbulbs, protein powder and bars; other e-cigarette items, the Clearly Drinks brand and even Sealions sleep gummies, Supreme are in the position to potentially rescue Typhoo, although a buyout deal is not yet finalised.

It’s unclear what the PLC will ultimately do with the brand should the acquisition be completed but it could prove to be a big coup if they can help it recover.

More importantly, with more than 100 jobs at risk throughout the company, not to mention Tyhpoo’s heritage as a historically significant domestic brand, we would love nothing more than to see the much-loved brew-makers back on their feet and livelihoods kept intact thanks to a local brand of our own.

Fingers crossed.

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Featured Image — Amazon UK

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ITV confirm Granada Reports replacement after presenter Lucy Meacock’s departure

Danny Jones Danny Jones Katie Walderman replacing Lucy Meacock on Granada Reports ITV

ITV has finally confirmed their incoming replacement for long-serving presenter Lucy Meacock, who left Granada Reports earlier this year.

An instantly recognisable face across the North West, Meacock helped cover current affairs and local events across the region on their flagship news programme for 36 long years – more than half of the entire time the show has been on the air.

‘Bowing out quietly’ back in August – four years on from the tragic passing of her long-time presenting partner, Tony Morris – Granada has been without a permanent co-anchor to serve alongside Gamal Fahnbulleh ever since, but now the hosting team looks set to be restored back to full strength very soon.

Confirming the news on Friday morning, 29 November, ITV has named rival news presenter Katie Walderman as Meacock’s successor, with her first show set to air next week.

Having been part of BBC’s equivalent North West Tonight (NWT) programme for more than a decade, Walderman is virtually a perfect fit for the role.

For those unfamiliar, despite being best known for her long and successful spell with the news corporation, she also went viral in May last year after accidentally mistaking a Eurovision fan for Finland’s 2023 entrant, Käärijä.

Lovable gaffes aside, Walderman has been one of the BBC’s most celebrated journalists in recent years, having worked in roles on BBC Breakfast and North West Today before joining NWT. She started on local radio in her hometown of Liverpool before joining Real Radio and Smooth FM in MediaCityUK.

In fact, it was only last week that she picked up the Journalist of the Year at the 2024 Royal Television Society North West Awards – a perfect parting gift.

Announcing her own departure earlier this month, Meacock shared numerous images as she looked back on her favourite memories on the job.

Speaking on joining ITV, Walderman said: “It’s an absolute dream come true to join Granada Reports. I grew up watching the programme, but never in a million years did I think I’d actually get the chance to present it.

“I was born and raised in Liverpool and I’m now bringing up three of my own little Scousers. I can’t wait to continue flying the flag for our fantastic region and all the amazing communities here.

“I’m really looking forward to joining the Granada family – both the team in Salford [Quays] and all those watching at home.”

Katie Walderman and Gamal Fahnbulleh will host their first evening show together on Monday, 2 December at 6pm.

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Featured Images — ITV/Screenshot (via YouTube)

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