Gregg Wallace
Encyclopedia
Gregg Allan Wallace is an English writer, media personality and former greengrocer, costermonger
and farmer. He is probably best known for co-presenting MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC Two
and BBC One
along with John Torode
, where he is referred to as an "ingredients expert". He has referred to himself jokingly as just: "the fat, bald bloke on Masterchef who likes pudding".
and began his career selling vegetables at a stand in Covent Garden
. He started George Allan’s Greengrocers in 1989, a company that built up to an eventual turnover of £7.5 million. Due to his success he was invited to co-present Veg Talk on BBC Radio 4
with Charlie Hicks for seven years. He was the original presenter of Saturday Kitchen
from 2002 until he was replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson
in 2003. Gregg 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 2007, he appeared in the BBC reality TV singing contest Just the Two of Us where he partnered Carol Decker; they were the first to be eliminated. In 2008 and 2009 he presented two editions of The Money Programme
on the effect that the current financial crisis is having on the public's attitudes towards food. In 2010, he appeared as one of the historical experts in the BBC One historical recreation series Turn Back Time: The High Street alongside Tom Herbert and Juliet Gardiner
.
Gregg regularly writes for Good Food and Olive
magazine. He has a Level 2 rugby union
coaching certificate and used to play for London Welsh.
He has two children, Tom and Libby, and two dogs.
Costermonger
Costermonger, or simply Coster, is a street seller of fruit and vegetables, in London and other British towns. They were ubiquitous in mid-Victorian England, and some are still found in markets. As usual with street-sellers, they would use a loud sing-song cry or chant to attract attention...
and farmer. He is probably best known for co-presenting MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
and BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
along with John Torode
John Torode
John Torode is an Australian-born British celebrity chef specialising in Australasian food. He runs Smiths of Smithfield and several other restaurants scattered throughout London's Smithfield market....
, where he is referred to as an "ingredients expert". He has referred to himself jokingly as just: "the fat, bald bloke on Masterchef who likes pudding".
Life and work
Wallace was born in PeckhamPeckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
and began his career selling vegetables at a stand in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. He started George Allan’s Greengrocers in 1989, a company that built up to an eventual turnover of £7.5 million. Due to his success he was invited to co-present Veg Talk on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
with Charlie Hicks for seven years. He was the original presenter of Saturday Kitchen
Saturday Kitchen
Saturday Kitchen Live is a 90 minute cookery programme, which is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday mornings. It is currently presented by James Martin; previous presenters have included Antony Worrall Thompson and Gregg Wallace. The programme is currently produced by Cactus TV...
from 2002 until he was replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson
Antony Worrall Thompson
Henry Antony Cardew Worrall Thompson is a British celebrity chef, television presenter and radio broadcaster.-Biography:...
in 2003. Gregg also presented Veg Out for the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, and Follow That Tomato for The Food Channel
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
, resulting in a Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
award for Best Lifestyle Programme in 2003. In 2007, he appeared in the BBC reality TV singing contest Just the Two of Us where he partnered Carol Decker; they were the first to be eliminated. In 2008 and 2009 he presented two editions of The Money Programme
The Money Programme
The Money Programme is a finance and business affairs television programme on BBC2.It was first broadcast on 5 April 1966 and presented by "commentators" William Davis, Erskine Childers and Joe Roeber. At this time David Attenborough was the controller of BBC2...
on the effect that the current financial crisis is having on the public's attitudes towards food. In 2010, he appeared as one of the historical experts in the BBC One historical recreation series Turn Back Time: The High Street alongside Tom Herbert and Juliet Gardiner
Juliet Gardiner
Juliet Gardiner is a British historian and a commentator on British social history from Victorian times through to the 1950s...
.
Gregg regularly writes for Good Food and Olive
Olive (magazine)
olive is a modern food magazine published by Immediate Media Co. It was launched in 2003 and is an upmarket, monthly magazine in the stable that also includes BBC Good Food, bbcgoodfood.com, Easy Cook and Vegetarian Good Food.-Content:...
magazine. He has a Level 2 rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
coaching certificate and used to play for London Welsh.
He has two children, Tom and Libby, and two dogs.