Lisa Faulkner's real thoughts on Gregg Wallace have resurfaced after the MasterChef host stepped back from the show while allegations into misconduct are investigated.
The actress, 52, who is married to John Torode, said at Cheltenham Literature Festival back in October, the judge, 60, would make 'rude joke after rude joke I didn't want to hear' when she appeared on the show in 2010.
On Tuesday it was revealed the BBC has now cancelled its two planned MasterChef Christmas specials in a huge U-turn.
Lisa went on to win the Celebrity MasterChef trophy during her stint in 2010.
Speaking about her time on the show, she said, according to The Sun: 'Gregg was telling - I'm probably not allowed to say this…Gregg just told rude joke after rude joke to the crew.
'You're just sitting there and if you're on the front bench just chopping away thinking, 'I've got ten minutes left', and he's saying, 'So this girl walked into a bar…And I'm going, 'Please, I don't want to hear this joke'
Lisa's husband John, 59, who was on stage with her to promote their new book, told her: 'It's changed quite a lot really…'
The Holby City star married John in 2019. Gregg is said to be 'furious' with John - his MasterChef co-host of almost 20 years - after he failed to publicly support him.
The under-fire presenter, has unfollowed the couple on Instagram, making his anger quite plain - though Lisa still follows Gregg and the chef's wife Anne-Marie Sterpini still follows the couple.
Gregg is facing claims from at least 13 women across five shows over a 17-year preiod, who have accused him of inappropriate behaviour, including roaming around on set naked with a sock on his penis, inappropriate jokes and groping crew members.
Other allegations include talking openly about his sex life on set, including details of intimate acts, flirting with crew members and asking younger female colleagues for their numbers.
The judge's lawyers have said 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'.
In light of the allegations, the BBC cancelled its two festive episodes, which featured celebrities including The Wanted singer Max George, Emmerdale actor Amy Walsh, reality star Luca Bish and comedian Shazia Mira.
The second, called MasterChef Meets Strictly Festive Extravaganza, was due to feature Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu, with Motsi Mabuse setting a challenge.
It is understood the celebrities involved are being spoken to about the reasons behind the change in programming, and that no changes will be made to iPlayer content.
The BBC previously said it would continue airing all filmed episodes of MasterChef, although the announcement appears to mark a major U-turn.
The corporation has also axed the rerun of three episodes of Inside The Factory, a show Gregg hosted until leaving under a cloud earlier this year.
It comes after the BBC was criticised for showing a semi-final of the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals despite the ongoing storm.
But the BBC said the celebrity Christmas specials are 'obviously a different type of show' as it justified its decision to axe them.
On Monday, Gregg apologised for his comments about the complainants being from a 'handful of middle-class women of a certain age' from Celebrity MasterChef.
The former grocer also told his followers he would be taking some time out as the investigation takes place.
He said: 'I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.
'I wasn't in a good head space when I posted it. I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege, yesterday, when I posted it.
'It's obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway. I hope you understand, and I do hope you accept this apology.'
