Penny Lancaster says she was victim of 'bullying' by Gregg Wallace

Model Penny Lancaster has claimed that she was some a "witness" and "victim" to "bullying" behaviour by erstwhile MasterChef host, Gregg Wallace.

It is the archetypal clip the 53-year-old has spoken retired since her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, publically accused Wallace past period of being an "ill-mannered bully" who had "humiliated" his woman during her 2021 quality connected the show.

Lancaster told ITV's Loose Women connected Thursday: "I didn't realise my hubby had sent that station retired until it was out".

Wallace stepped down from MasterChef 2 weeks agone portion an probe into the allegations of historical misconduct are nether way. His lawyers person powerfully denied each the allegations.

After the archetypal allegations emerged, Sir Rod posted connected Instagram: "Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my woman erstwhile she was connected the show, but you had that spot chopped retired didn't you?

"You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart".

Lancaster - who made it to the quarter-finals of Celebrity MasterChef - told the show: "Without going into details, I didn't realise my hubby had sent that station retired until it was retired and of course, you tin imagine, the influx of inquiries determination were.

She said she was connected assemblage work astatine the clip and didn't realise what had happened until later, saying she was "in shock" by Sir Rod's message.

"When I did crook my telephone backmost connected I got a connection from a person saying, 'Oh my god, however astonishing was that connection your hubby enactment out!' And I was similar 'What message? What has helium done?'"

Speaking to the panel, Lancaster said: "I astir decidedly was witnesser and unfortunate to immoderate of the bullying and harassment behaviour of Gregg Wallace, and unfortunately, a batch of those progressive successful the accumulation squad were besides witnesser to that, and I truly consciousness that helium utilized his presumption of powerfulness to, I believe, intimidate and origin distress to a batch of radical connected set.

"And it's truly unfortunate that idiosyncratic similar him is allowed to get distant with that, and portion others benignant of basal by and fto it hap astatine the aforesaid time."

Lancaster added: "I felt a small spot vindicated that thing was enactment retired there, going backmost to benignant of that full Me Too (movement), it's shocking to deliberation however galore women bash endure successful the hands of... (men) successful a almighty presumption and are excessively acrophobic to speech out.

"They don't consciousness astatine the clip that they're going to beryllium supported oregon listened to. So sometimes it tin instrumentality a fewer years aboriginal for idiosyncratic to notation something. It gives the different victims and radical that person suffered the assurance to travel forward."

Wallace stepped speech from presenting MasterChef after a BBC News probe past period discovered 13 people, spanning a scope of ages crossed 5 antithetic programmes, had made allegations against Wallace of inappropriate intersexual comments.

Other women person since travel guardant with further claims against the 60-year-old.

Wallace's lawyers person said it is wholly mendacious that helium engages successful behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.

Production institution Banijay UK announced an "immediate, outer reappraisal to afloat and impartially investigate" and has said that Wallace was "committed to afloat cooperating passim the process".

Asked astir Lancaster's circumstantial allegations, Banijay says it "takes this substance incredibly earnestly but portion the outer probe is ongoing, we won't beryllium commenting connected idiosyncratic allegations".

"It is important to note, that MasterChef payment processes are regularly adapted and strengthened and determination are wide protocols to enactment some unit and contributors.

"These see aggregate ways of reporting issues, including anonymously. HR interaction details are promoted, and contributors are assigned a constituent of interaction connected acceptable disposable to sermon immoderate issues oregon concerns."

A BBC spokesperson antecedently described allegations into Wallace's behaviour arsenic "concerning", and said the corp would beryllium supporting MasterChef shaper Banijay UK successful its investigation.

It besides thanked those "who had the courageousness to talk out", adding it hopes that the autarkic probe "can beryllium concluded rigorously and arsenic swiftly arsenic possible" and would "follow owed process and guarantee fairness to each involved."

Lancaster met her rock-star husband, champion known for deed songs 'Do You Think I'm Sexy' and 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain' successful 1999 portion helium was connected tour. The mates joined successful 2007 and person 2 sons, Alastair, 18 and Aiden, 13.

In 2017, during a treatment astir the #MeToo run connected societal media started by survivors of intersexual harassment and assault, Lancaster revealed she had been sexually assaulted arsenic a teenager by idiosyncratic she had worked for.