Gregg Wallace still eats KFC bargain buckets and Big Macs despite huge weight loss
EXCLUSIVE: The Masterchef judge has thrilled fans with a series of steamy topless selfies - but he's not totally turned his back on calorific junk food
Gregg Wallace is in great shape for a new series of MasterChef but it’s not all down to his diet.
The lively 55-year-old food pundit is not the man he used to be, having lost three stone.
He credits his new slimmed down physique to his changed eating habits and exercising seven times a week.
But he admits he’s no saint: “I still love a Big Mac and a KFC bargain bucket. I don’t agree with diets,” he said.
“Healthy eating has crept up on me. I’ve never been happier or fitter.”
Tomorrow he is reunited with fellow foodie John Torode, 54, for a new series of the cooking show.
Masterchef star Gregg Wallace shows off his ripped body after three stone weight loss(Image: Instagram)
The dynamic duo have been together for 16 years and it seems absence is their recipe for a long and happy TV partnership.
John reckons they work as a team because they do not live in each other’s pockets.
He said: “We are two people who have our own minds and our own lives.
“We do our own things. Outside of work we don’t socialise. We dress differently from each other, we have different taste in food and drink.
Gregg also uploaded this steamy selfie to his fans' delight(Image: Instagram)
“We have different opinions. We respect that and give each other space. We disagree.”
But there is one thing the pair do agree on. Gregg said: “John and I have an incredible understanding. We have found our own way over the years.
“We trust each other. There’s a mutual respect. Ant and Dec don’t do things on their own but we’re different. We go off on projects alone.”
John and actress wife Lisa Faulkner, 48, present John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen on ITV and there is a new series on the cards.
Gregg with his co-host John Torode, who he says he has the utmost respect for(Image: BBC)
Gregg would have liked to follow suit and do a show with his Italian wife Anne-Marie, 33, who is also a keen cook. He said: “We did some telly for the Italian book.
“I thought she did really well. I suggested she might want to do more TV but she gave me a very stern no.”
Gregg could hardly be happier with Anne-Marie, his fourth wife.
They were married in August 2016 and in May she gave birth to Sid, her first and Gregg’s third child.
Lisa Faulkner and John now have their own Saturday morning cooking show after meeting and falling in love while filming Celebrity Masterchef(Image: Getty)
He said: “My wife has made an incredible difference to my life. She’s given me complete and utter direction.
"She’s also given me a solid base to work from. I know exactly why I’m doing things now. She’s made a major impact.
“To have a little boy at my age, 55, is amazing.
Greg Wallace with his gorgeous wife Anna Marie(Image: ExpressStar)
“He’s this beautiful little Italian boy. He looks just like his mum. He’s only got his nose from his dad. He most definitely doesn’t have my hair.”
Gregg’s life has had an overhaul but what has not changed is his sweet tooth, well know to MasterChef fans.
He said: “I’m still tucking into the desserts – just not as many as I did. We’re only having spoonfuls.
"And if you look after yourself you can have as many spoonfuls as you’d like.
“What you can’t have is bowl fulls. I don’t really drink. I do watch what I eat.”
Gregg and John said this series has the highest standard of cooking yet and boasts a more international flavour.
Proud dad Gregg and adorable baby Sid(Image: Instagram)
John said: “For the first time we have food from Iran and Canada. The food is more diverse and people are more confident in their food.”
Gregg and John are proud of their kinder approach to contestants. Gregg said: “John and I try and help them as much as we can.
“We don’t go out of our way to criticise them or belittle them.” John said: “You’ve got to be kind to people. The dishes are really hard to cook.
“It may not have worked or be great but you never spit food out. That’s just wrong.”
- MasterChef, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9pm, BBC1.
