Thursday, December 12, 2024

Penny Lancaster looks sensational as she enjoys night out with Rod Stewart as the couple are seen for the first time since her husband issued furious rant at ‘tubby bully’ Gregg Wallace

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Penny Lancaster and her husband Rod Stewart looked in great spirits as they enjoyed a glamorous night out on Friday evening. 

The couple were seen leaving the exclusive Annabel’s club in London as they put on a united front in their first public appearance since the musician’s recent comments about Gregg Wallace.  

On Thursday the singer issued a furious rant at the Masterchef presenter, calling him a ‘tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully’ for ‘humiliating’ his wife when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. 

Gregg, 60, stepped away from MasterChef this week after 13 people, including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, accused him of ‘wrong’ and inappropriate ‘sexualised’ behaviour during filming. 

Penny was left in tears during her appearance on the show after Gregg told her off with the ‘serious’ delay of her food and then refused to eat her food.

However, despite the media frenzy, Rod and Penny beamed as they climbed into their car together. 

The couple were seen for the first time since her husband issued furious rant at 'tubby bully' Gregg Wallace

Penny Lancaster looked sensational as she enjoyed a night out with Rod Stewart on Friday as the couple were seen for the first time since her husband issued furious rant at ‘tubby bully’ Gregg Wallace

The couple were seen leaving the exclusive Annabel's club in London as they put on a united front after Rod took to Instagram

The couple were seen leaving the exclusive Annabel’s club in London as they put on a united front after Rod took to Instagram 

Penny looked sensational as she wowed in a black lace dress and black and white leopard print winter coat. 

Completing her look with a pair of gold sparkling shoes, the Special Constable’s blonde hair was styled in a voluminous blow dry. 

Meanwhile Rod donned a quirky black suit with white pinstripes and black sparkly shoes. 

Wrapping up in a white coat, he paid tribute to his deep love of Celtic Football Club as a brooch from the club gleamed from his tie. 

Following Gregg’s departure which was announced on Thursday, Rod took to Instagram as he wrote: ‘So Greg [sic] Wallace gets fired from Master Chef.

‘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. Sir Rod Stewart’

MailOnline have contacted the BBC for a comment. 

Gregg, 60, stepped away from MasterChef this week after 13 people, including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark , accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming

Gregg, 60, stepped away from MasterChef this week after 13 people, including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark , accused him of ‘wrong’ and inappropriate ‘sexualised’ behaviour during filming

The musician's statement read: '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'

The musician’s statement read: ‘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’

Penny looked sensational as she wowed in a black lace dress and black and white leopard print winter coat

Penny looked sensational as she wowed in a black lace dress and black and white leopard print winter coat

She completed her look with a pair of gold sparkling shoes

The Special Constable's blonde hair was styled in a voluminous blow dry

She completed her look with a pair of gold sparkling shoes and the Special Constable’s blonde hair was styled in a voluminous blow dry

Meanwhile Rod donned a quirky black suit with white pinstripes and black sparkly shoes

Meanwhile Rod donned a quirky black suit with white pinstripes and black sparkly shoes

Wrapping up in a white coat, he paid tribute to his deep love of Celtic Football Club as a brooch from the club gleamed from his tie

Wrapping up in a white coat, he paid tribute to his deep love of Celtic Football Club as a brooch from the club gleamed from his tie

Penny was seen embracing with the door porters as she left the venue

Penny was seen embracing with the door porters as she left the venue 

She pinned her hair up later in the evening to keep it off her face

She pinned her hair up later in the evening to keep it off her face 

Rod is known for his quirky style and incorporating sparkle into his looks

Rod is known for his quirky style and incorporating sparkle into his looks 

The couple couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as they sat in their car

The couple couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces as they sat in their car 

Penny was left in tears during her appearance on Masterchef after Gregg told her off with the 'serious' delay of her food and then refused to eat her food

Penny was left in tears during her appearance on Masterchef after Gregg told her off with the ‘serious’ delay of her food and then refused to eat her food 

Rod was also seen chatting to the staff as he patted them on the shoulder

Rod was also seen chatting to the staff as he patted them on the shoulder 

He wore a Celtic brooch clipped to his tie

He wore a Celtic brooch clipped to his tie 

Penny looked in great spirits despite the media frenzy

Penny looked in great spirits despite the media frenzy 

The singer was seen climbing into the car at the end of the night

The singer was seen climbing into the car at the end of the night 

Rod was spotted handing tips to the porters

Rod was spotted handing tips to the porters 

As chaos filled the kitchen during her stint on the show, Gregg told Penny: ‘Mate, we can’t be 10 minutes late,’ calling her delay ‘serious’.

Following Penny’s eviction from the kitchen in 2021, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram hinting at ‘a person’s behaviour’.

She wrote on Instagram: ‘When you finally learn that a person’s behaviour has more to do with their own struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace’.

Gregg has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’ and talking about his sex life to others.

On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn’t wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans.

The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022.

Kirsty claims that on two occasions Gregg told stories and jokes of a ‘sexualised nature’ in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were ‘really, really in the wrong place’.

‘There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn’t as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen’, she said.

On Thursday, Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series with the cryptic message: ‘Always keep your receipts’. It is not yet known if she has also complained.

As chaos filled the kitchen during her stint on the show, Gregg told Penny: ¿Mate, we can¿t be 10 minutes late,¿ calling her delay 'serious'

As chaos filled the kitchen during her stint on the show, Gregg told Penny: ‘Mate, we can’t be 10 minutes late,’ calling her delay ‘serious’

The BBC claims that Gregg walked away from MasterChef today after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply

The BBC claims that Gregg walked away from MasterChef today after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply 

Gregg has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' and talking about his sex life to others

Gregg has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’ and talking about his sex life to others

The BBC claims that Gregg walked away from MasterChef today after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. 

They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024.

Gregg is ‘committed to fully cooperating throughout the process’, the show’s production company Banijay UK said. 

Gregg will be on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef’s Christmas specials will also still be broadcast.

On Thursday Gregg broke his silence as he thanked people for their support following accusations he mimicked a sex act and wandered into the MasterChef studio ‘completely naked’ apart from a ‘sock covering his penis’. 

The Daily Telegraph says it has spoken to a witness who claims to have seen both these alleged incidents. Gregg was also ‘very touchy feely’, the newspaper quotes the witness as saying.

What has Gregg Wallace been accused of? 

13 people who have told the BBC of what they consider inappropriate sexual comments made by Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period. 

These include:

  • Kirsty Wark says that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a ‘sexualised nature’ in front of contestants on Celebrity MasterChef and crew and that she felt they were ‘really, really in the wrong place’.
  • Talking openly about his sex life on set 
  • Taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’
  • Telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans’

The grocer turned presenter is also accused of making ‘disgusting sex-related jokes’, including one about an ‘aunt’ while tasting a contestant’s dish during the show.

Taking to Instagram in a video he said: ‘I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support.

‘That’s good of you, thank you very much.’

In October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never ‘flirt with’ or ‘hit on’ another woman and saying: ‘I didn’t say anything sexual’.

BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter ‘talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’, and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans’. 

Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations.

In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: ‘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 producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.

‘While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.

‘Banijay UK’s 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, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.

‘Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.’

The statement added: ‘If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.’

The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it ‘seriously’.

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.

‘We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.

‘Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.’

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