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MasterChef UK host lashes out at wave of complaints

<p><em>MasterChef UK</em> host Gregg Wallace has lashed out at  “middle-class women of a certain age” for making complaints about him in a bizarre online rant. </p> <p>The TV host has stepped back from the program after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years. </p> <p>The controversy first came to light following a report by <em>The Sun</em>, which detailed accusations that Wallace, 60, made "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer during his time on <em>Impossible Celebrities</em>. He has also faced claims of being rude and insulting to women on another program in 2023.</p> <p>After denying the allegations, Wallace launched into a heated tirade in an Instagram post, hitting back at the people he believes first complained about his conduct.</p> <p>Wallace said on Instagram, “I have been doing <em>MasterChef</em> for 20 years – amateur, celebrity and professional <em>MasterChef</em> and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life."</p> <p>“And apparently now I am reading in the paper there’s been 13 complaints in that time.</p> <p>“In the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from <em>Celebrity MasterChef</em>. This isn’t right."</p> <p>“In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on <em>MasterChef</em> have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?”</p> <p>“Do you know how many staff, all different sorts of staff, made a complaint about me in that time. Absolutely none. Zero. Seriously.”</p> <p>Wallace's rant comes after Sir Rod Stewart <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/tubby-bald-headed-ill-mannered-bully-rod-stewart-s-extraordinary-spray" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> the TV host in the wake of the allegations, accusing him of humiliating his wife, Penny Lancaster, during her appearance on <em>Celebrity MasterChef</em> in 2021.</p> <p>Stewart wrote, “Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya.”</p> <p>Wallace has denied the allegations and stated that a previous investigation by the BBC six years ago cleared him of any wrongdoing. He insisted his comments were not sexual in nature, saying, "I don’t want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that, and I never have."</p> <p>Banijay UK, the production company behind <em>MasterChef</em>, confirmed the investigation into "historical allegations" and stated they are cooperating fully with the BBC. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation is commited to addressing any behaviour falling below its expected standards: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them... We will always support external production companies when addressing complaints or concerns.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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"Tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully": Rod Stewart's extraordinary spray

<p>British TV personality Gregg Wallace has stepped down from his role as host of <em>MasterChef UK</em> amid an investigation into allegations of misconduct.</p> <p>The controversy first came to light following a report by <em>The Sun</em>, which detailed accusations that Wallace, 60, made "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer during his time on <em>Impossible Celebrities</em>. He has also faced claims of being rude and insulting to women on another program in 2023.</p> <p>However, adding to the public spectacle, it was veteran rocker Sir Rod Stewart's response to the drama that really raised eyebrows.</p> <p>Stewart immediately took to Instagram to express his disdain for Wallace. In a strongly-worded post, Stewart accused the TV star of humiliating his wife, Penny Lancaster, during her appearance on <em>Celebrity MasterChef</em> in 2021. Stewart wrote:</p> <p>“Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC6_lW2JJ6g/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC6_lW2JJ6g/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sir Rod Stewart (@sirrodstewart)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Wallace has denied the allegations and stated that a previous investigation by the BBC six years ago cleared him of any wrongdoing. He insisted his comments were not sexual in nature, saying:</p> <p>"I don’t want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that, and I never have."</p> <p>Banijay UK, the production company behind <em>MasterChef</em>, confirmed the investigation into "historical allegations" and stated they are cooperating fully with the BBC. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation is commited to addressing any behaviour falling below its expected standards: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them... We will always support external production companies when addressing complaints or concerns.”</p> <p>This isn’t the first time Wallace has been at the centre of controversy. Last year, he faced backlash for allegedly being rude and insulting to women on the BBC’s <em>Inside the Factory</em>. At the time, Wallace claimed his departure from the show was to focus on his autistic son, Sid.</p> <p><em>Images: Today Show / MasterChef UK</em></p>

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Prince Charles' real "soulmate" revealed

<p>A royal biographer claims Prince Charles has a real “soulmate” that he had fallen for, before Princess Camilla, or even Princess Di. </p> <p>Penny Juror said Prince Charles was romantically linked to a younger woman after he was involved with Duchess Camilla in the early seventies and before he married the late Princess Di on July 29, 1981. </p> <p>The woman was Davina Sheffield, and according to Juror was a woman who “seemed ideal in many ways.”</p> <p>Prince Charles was the most eligible bachelor in the world throughout the 70’s and 80’s. </p> <p>Juror wrote in her 2005 book<span> </span>The Firm,<span> </span>that Prince Charles ruined the relationship he began with beautiful and alluring Davina by rekindling with his old flame, Camilla. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUt-IoDSuw/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUt-IoDSuw/" target="_blank">Mrs Jake Morley [nee Davina Mary Sheffield] born 1 March 1950; former girlfriend of the Prince of Wales; sister-in-law of Miranda, Duchess of Beaufort. #DavinaMorley #DavinaSheffield #fawbs</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/ernest_fawbert/" target="_blank"> Fawbert</a> (@ernest_fawbert) on Apr 16, 2019 at 9:49am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"In 1976, the prince fell for another girl, Davina Sheffield, who could have been the soulmate he was searching for," she wrote. </p> <p>"She seemed ideal in so many ways, and they appeared to be very much in love. </p> <p>"But she already had a boyfriend when Charles met her, an Old Harrovian and powerboat racer named James Beard. </p> <p>"Davina initially rebuffed invitations to have dinner with the Prince, but he was so persistent that she eventually succumbed and the boyfriend soon fell by the wayside. </p> <p>"He was subsequently conned into talking about his relationship with Davina by what turned out to be a Sunday tabloid reporter and the story of their affair, complete with photographs of their 'love nest', made headline news. </p> <p>"It killed the relationship stone dead." </p> <p>The couple were introduced by Charle’s sister Princess Anne. Davina is the granddaughter of the first Lord McGowan and the cousin of Samantha Cameron. </p> <p>The Prince later met a beautiful Scottish heiress Anna Wallace who Juror wrote also could have been Charle’s true soul mate - despite the relationship not being supported by his family. </p> <p>Juror wrote in her 2017 book,<span> </span>The Duchess<span> </span>that Wallace had dumped the then handsome prince in a fit of rage over his relationship with Duchess Camilla. </p> <p>"Charles had taken her to two successive balls and then danced with Camilla for most of both evenings," she wrote. </p> <p>"Anna dumped him with the words: 'No one treats me like that – not even you.'"</p> <p>Prince Charles met his future wife, Princess Diana in November of 1977, whilst he was with her older sister, Lady Sarah. </p> <p>The two later married in 1981 at St Paul’s Cathedral and became the Princess of Wales. </p> <p>They shared two children, Prince William and Prince Harry, before she passed away in a tragic car accident in 1997. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the two woman Prince Charles was linked to before he married Princess Diana.</p>

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