Gregg Wallace was shown on the BBC for what is potentially the last time in tonight’s MasterChef: The Professionals final, where he praised winner Dan Merriman, 29, for his “dish after dish of absolute beauty”.

Throughout the competition Dan has wowed the judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace and impressed restaurant critics and some of the country’s leading chefs – delivering outstanding, innovative food and skilful cookery.

Reacting to his win, Dan said: “To walk away as MasterChef Champion, it means the world to me. There’s not been that many times where I’ve been proud of myself in my life, but I’ve hit the pinnacle! This whole competition has changed my life. I’m forever grateful.”

The judges had so much to say about Dan, with Marcus Wareing commenting: “We have a star. I see Dan’s cookery as fine dining at its very, very best. His food is precise, technical, it’s incredibly creative. I think it’s outstanding. This guy is shining. I can’t wait to see what this chef is going to do in the future.”

Monica Galetti added: “From the moment he walked in, he let his cooking do the talking. I don’t think Dan realises how good he is. The kind of cooking he’s been doing takes years to get right.” Gregg Wallace said: “Dan’s food has been blowing us away, not just in this Final but for round after round. Dish after dish of absolute beauty. Watching this chef grow in stature has been a wonderful thing to witness. I think this has been a turning point in Dan’s life.

The final three ( 
Image:
BBC/Shine TV)
The Christmas specials of MasterChef have been pulled from the BBC ’s schedules after allegations surfaced about Gregg’s behaviour. BBC bosses previously said the corporation will not “tolerate behaviour that falls below the standards we expect” and will continue to champion “a culture that is kind, inclusive and respectful”.

Last week, Gregg apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”, adding he will “take some time out”. Lawyers for the presenter have previously strongly denied “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, according to BBC News.

With regard to the Christmas specials, a BBC spokesperson said: “As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned. The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.”

It comes after Sir Rod Stewart’s wife Penny Lancaster has claimed she was “bullied” by Gregg on Celebrity MasterChef. The model and Loose Women star, 53, said she believes he “used his position of power to intimidate and cause distress” on set, and claims production

Last month, Sir Rod, 57, alleged that the presenter “humiliated” his wife when she took part on the show in 2021, saying “good riddance” to Gregg after he stepped away from the BBC programme while the show’s production company Banijay UK investigates claims of misconduct.

Now, Penny has spoken about her experiences with Gregg, 60, for the first time, saying on Loose Women: “I most definitely was witness and victim to some of the bullying and harassment behaviour of Gregg Wallace, and unfortunately, a lot of those involved in the production team were also witness to that.

“I really feel that he used his position of power to, I believe, intimidate and cause distress to a lot of people on set. And it’s really unfortunate that someone like him is allowed to get away with that, and while others sort of stand by and let it happen at the same time.”

She added that Rod had posted his now famous critique of the presenter as a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” without her knowledge. “I didn’t realise my husband had sent that post out until it was out,” she said, adding she was “in shock” when she read it.

Penny continues: “I felt a little bit vindicated that something was put out there, going back to sort of that whole Me Too (movement), it’s shocking to think how many women do suffer in the hands of… (men) in a powerful position and are too afraid to talk out. They don’t feel at the time that they’re going to be supported or listened to. So sometimes it can take a few years later for someone to mention something. It gives the other victims and people that have suffered the confidence to come forward.”