Gregg Wallace says appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 was so stressful it led to him breaking out in a rash and seeing therapy: ‘I was in floods of tears’

Gregg Wallace has candidly revealed just how stressful he found apperaring on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2014.

The MasterChef star, 58, who was paired with pro partner Aliona Vilani, said the experience led to him breaking out in a rash and even seeking therapy.

He told The Mirror’s Men In Mind podcast: ‘I was having a really tough time [on Strictly] I was really, really stressed… so badly that the side of my face broke out into a rash, like cold sores’.

Gregg explained how things got so bad that he couldn’t bring himself to dance in front of the audience which led to worried show bosses recommending he get professional help. 

Saying: ‘I was due to do the dance that night and I called [The therapist] up and said, “Are you free? Can you come and help me?” She jumped in the car, came into my dressing room and had me in floods of tears. But I went out and danced’. 

Candid: Gregg Wallace, 58, has candidly revealed how stressful he found his time on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2014

Behind the scenes: The MasterChef star who was paired with pro partner Aliona Vilani said the experience led to him breaking out in a rash and even seeking therapy

Unfortunately the TV chef failed to impress with his routine and was voted off first from the series finishing in 14th place. 

Gregg says continued his relationship with the therapist and credits her for helping him come to terms with his ‘low self-esteem’ and ‘self-doubt’.

He said that he believes his issues come from growing up poor in a a council terrace and fears deep down that he will loose everything and go back to having nothing. 

Last month Gregg denied that he left the BBC show Inside The Factory in March due to inappropriate comments made towards female staff. 

Appearing on Good Morning Britain the presenter stated that such claims were ‘inaccurate’. 

It was reported by The Times back in May that he had allegedly offended certain female staff members at the Nestlé UK factory in York with comments about their weight during a ‘friendly’ conversation. 

‘He was rude towards staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women,’ a source told the newspaper.

The comments were non-sexual but were deemed ‘inappropriate’ and a complaint was lodged with Voltage TV, the production company responsible for developing the show.

Honest: Gregg explained how things got so bad that he couldn’t bring himself to dance in front of the audience which led to worried show bosses recommending he get professional help

Opening up: He said: ‘I was having a really tough time [on Strictly] I was really, really stressed… so badly that the side of my face broke out into a rash, like cold sores’.

‘He was given a talking-to and was appalled that he had caused such offence,’ the source added.

However host Richard Madeley gave the presenter a chance to clear up the rumours on the show as Gregg confirmed that ‘the reporting isn’t accurate.’

He revealed that there was an issue with Inside The Factory that prompted him to leave, but it was not for the reasons reported. 

‘There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn’t accurate. There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out.’ 

‘Offending people? No no. If you look at the headlines you can’t see a story that matches those headlines.’

‘Inappropriate’: Last month Gregg denied that he left the BBC show Inside The Factory in March due to inappropriate comments made towards female staff (pictured with co-host Cherry Healey)

He said: ‘There was an argument inside the factory, the reporting isn’t accurate. There was an issue and I thought this is the perfect time to come out’

Gregg also revealed that he also wanted to leave to help care for his three-year-old son Sid, who is autistic. 

Explaining his home situation, he revealed ‘I’ve got a little boy called Sid who at the moment is non-verbal, he is still in nappies, he’s got learning difficulties….Mum needed help there.’ 

He revealed that the demanding nature of the filming around the different factories across the country meant that it made sense to give it up. 

He concluded: ‘It’s completely inaccurate, I didn’t challenge it. There was an issue, I don’t want to discuss the issue but it wasn’t what the papers said it was. There was nothing offensive to anybody that’s just people guessing. It was a decent time to come out, I think.’ 

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