Gregg Wallace defends £37 Cameo videos: 'They helped us out' after MasterChef sacking

Gregg Wallace has defended his business model of selling £37 video messages on Cameo, admitting the income was crucial when he was left struggling financially by his MasterChef sacking. According to the Daily Mail ^[1], the former greengrocer took to Instagram to hit back at critics, stating that the videos "really did help us out" when he lost his job. He insisted that beyond the financial necessity, he "genuinely love[s]" making the clips and takes "great pride" in them, pointing to his five-star reviews as proof of quality.

The 61-year-old was dismissed by the BBC following an inquiry that examined 83 historical claims of workplace misconduct, where law firm Lewis Silkin ultimately validated 45 of those accusations. As reported by the Daily Mail ^[1], the review found that the majority of substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, alongside incidents of being in a state of undress. Wallace has previously apologised for any distress caused but claims the process was akin to an internal HR review rather than a legal proceeding.

Since his exit, Wallace has turned to Cameo to maintain his income, having previously earned an estimated £400,000 a year at the BBC. The Mirror ^[3] notes that Wallace has faced criticism for this move, but he remains defiant. He previously insisted he did not need to sell his £1million mansion, arguing that he was still earning a living through these personalised videos and paying his bills.

Wallace’s financial recovery has not been without controversy. He was forced to apologise to fans who paid up to £150 a month for personalised fitness coaching classes that he had stopped providing. Customers voiced frustration on Tripadvisor, claiming they were charged but received no response from Wallace or his team. A spokesman for GreggWallace.Health apologised for the service remaining available on the website, stating it should have been removed as it was no longer offered.

The former TV star has also attempted to sue the BBC for up to £10,000 in damages, alleging a failure to disclose his personal data, a claim he dropped in February. His lawyers have argued that the broadcaster’s decision to invite the public to complain may have infringed his human rights, as noted by the Daily Mail ^[1]. Wallace has claimed that no staff complaints were made over 20 years of filming, arguing that the open invitation to complain was unusual. He has yet to clarify if further legal action is being considered.