Gregg Wallace

Gregg Allan Wallace (born 17 October 1964) is an English broadcaster, entrepreneur, media personality, writer and former greengrocer. He is known for co-presenting ''MasterChef'', ''Celebrity MasterChef'' and '' MasterChef: The Professionals'', alongside celebrity chef John Torode, on BBC One and BBC Two. He has jokingly referred to himself as "just the fat, bald bloke on ''MasterChef'' who likes pudding". He has written regularly for ''Good Food'', ''Now'' and ''Olive'' magazines.

Early life and business career

Gregg Allan Wallace was born on 17 October 1964 in Peckham, South London. At the age of eight, he was a victim of sexual abuse. He left school at 15 and started work as a warehouseman at Covent Garden Fruit and Veg Market. He sold vegetables at a stand in Covent Garden, before becoming a salesman. He was later told that setting up a business might be a good idea. In 1989, he started George Allan's Greengrocers, a company that built up to an eventual turnover of £7.5 million. In 2010, Wallace opened the restaurant Wallace & Co in the London district of Putney, where he served as one of the directors.

In 2012, he opened Gregg's Bar & Grill in a joint venture with the Bermondsey Square Hotel in Bermondsey Square. In August 2013, it was reported that one of Wallace's companies, West Veg Limited, had folded, owing more than £500,000. In 2014, both of his restaurants folded, with Wallace & Co owing suppliers £150,000.

Television career

Wallace was invited to co-present ''Veg Talk'' on BBC Radio 4 with Charlie Hicks. The programme aired for seven years.

Wallace was the original presenter of ''Saturday Kitchen'' from 2002 until being replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson in 2003. Wallace also presented ''Veg Out'' for the Discovery Channel, and ''Follow That Tomato'' for The Food Channel, resulting in a Royal Television Society award for Best Lifestyle Programme in 2003.

In 2008 and 2009, Wallace presented two editions of ''The Money Programme'' on the effect that the financial crisis was having on the public's attitudes towards food. In August 2013, Wallace presented ''Supermarket Secrets'', a BBC One programme about supermarket food sourcing and distribution, and in September 2013, he co-presented ''Harvest 2013'', a three-part documentary following the progress of Britain's vegetable, cereal and fruit harvests.

In 2013, Wallace started to co-present ''Eat Well for Less?'' alongside Chris Bavin for BBC One and since 5 May 2015 he has co-presented ''Inside the Factory,'' alongside Cherry Healey and Ruth Goodman for BBC Two.

In 2016, Wallace was the presenter of a revived series of the BBC
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