Gregg Wallace

Food expert Gregg Wallace is used to putting celebrities through their paces as a judge in the MasterChef kitchen, but now it’s his turn under the spotlight as he swaps the frying pan for a spray tan and takes to the Strictly dance floor!

Gregg is a successful food entrepreneur, having begun his career on a vegetable stall at Covent Garden market. From humble roots Gregg eventually grew a number of his own food businesses, including restaurants and greengrocers, and he's also penned several books on the subject.

Following TV and radio appearances as a food business expert, Gregg went on to co-present Radio 4’s Veg Talk. Then after stints on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen and The Food Network’s Follow that Tomato, Gregg was invited to judge BBC competitive cooking show MasterChef, alongside chef John Torode. Together, their friendly, forthright and uncompromising approach to all things food has made them two of TV’s best-known gastronomers – and the good ship MasterChef continues to go from strength to strength with Gregg and John at the helm.

Gregg was born in Peckham, South East London. A big rugby fan he used to play competitively for London Welsh Vets and he now coaches Rugby Union in his spare time. Gregg currently splits his time between London and the family home in Whitstable, Kent, where he lives with his two children.

Known for being a big guy with a taste for treats and plenty to say, Gregg’s love of desserts especially is legendary - as are his forthright opinions on the dishes he tastes on MasterChef. He knows a buttery biscuit base can be a dangerous thing, and he has been known to refer to himself jokingly as “the fat, bald bloke on MasterChef who likes pudding". Daily gym sessions have seen Gregg lose over two stone ahead of his foray into the glittery world of competitive dance.

He’s used to dishing out verdicts on the culinary creations of the MasterChef hopefuls; so fingers crossed this year’s Strictly will prove a cakewalk for our sweet-toothed TV foodie.