ITV executives have vetoed Gregg Wallace from participating in the upcoming season of the reality show “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here” after he expressed interest in joining the cast on social media. Wallace, who recently announced legal action against the BBC for terminating his contract, mentioned his willingness to be considered for the show’s next edition starting in November, although he has not been formally approached.
During a TikTok video, Wallace shared messages from fans, including one inquiring about his potential appearance on the show. Despite expressing his openness to the idea, Wallace noted that he has not received any official invitation yet.
Sources from ITV categorically stated that Wallace will not be invited to the popular program filmed in Australia. An insider confirmed, “It’s a definite no from us. Fans hoping to see Gregg Wallace on the show alongside Ant and Dec will be disappointed.”
Meanwhile, Wallace, 60, has initiated legal proceedings against the BBC over his dismissal due to misconduct. The BBC spokesperson mentioned that they are not aware of any legal actions taken by Wallace and refrained from commenting until formally notified.
Wallace was removed from his long-standing role on MasterChef following multiple complaints of inappropriate behavior. The independent review upheld numerous allegations against him, leading to his termination along with co-host John Torode.
Since his departure, Wallace has been vocal on social media about the lack of support he received on the show, disclosing his autism diagnosis earlier this year. He criticized the show for not addressing his disability and the toxic work environment he endured for over two decades.
The investigation conducted by production house Banijay recognized Wallace’s autism diagnosis as relevant to the reported behaviors and admitted to shortcomings in managing and communicating instances of inappropriate conduct.
In related news, food critic Grace Dent and Irish chef Anna Haugh have been announced as replacements for Wallace and Torode on the main MasterChef show, featuring amateur chefs. Additionally, Matt Tebbutt has taken over Wallace’s role on MasterChef: The Professionals alongside Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.