Penny Lancaster reveals reason she plucked up courage to call out bullying by TV’s Gregg Wallace

PENNY Lancaster says hubby Sir Rod Stewart gave her the courage to call out bullying by TV’s Gregg Wallace.

She said other women have also been in touch to share their experiences with the shamed host of MasterChef.

In an online post Sir Rod, 79, called Wallace a “tubby, bald-headed, bully” for his treatment of Penny, 53, on the celebrity version of the BBC cooking show in 2021.

Loose Women’s Penny said: “Obviously it didn’t surprise me that my husband had done that and it didn’t surprise me about the incidents that Gregg Wallace has been accused of.”

Asked if she would not have felt confident speaking up without rocker Sir Rod’s ­support, Penny said: “Exactly, yeah. That is why you so often hear historical cases and people kind of question why it takes someone so long to come forward.

“It is that bravery of: ‘Maybe I am the only one? Maybe I won’t be taken seriously?’ Then suddenly you have the backing and support of other people and you feel like you are going to be listened to.”

Speaking about other women reaching out to her, she said: “In and around that conversation, yeah.

“I know a lot of people in the industry and it hasn’t really been a surprise to anyone.

“It is just a shame that so many women feel like they can’t reach out at the time because they don’t feel supported - so hopefully this will have more of a mark on the industry to protect and safeguard.”

Wallace, 60, is suspended over claims of sexual misconduct, which he denies.