Grace Dent's MasterChef pal Gregg Wallace shuts down I'm A Celebrity exit theory

28 November 2023 , 08:45

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Grace Dent's MasterChef pal Gregg Wallace shuts down I'm A Celebrity exit theory

MasterChef star Gregg Wallace has weighed in on his former co-star, Grace Dent's shock exit from the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! jungle.

The food critic, 50, known for her strong opinions on cuisine, had looked pale and a shadow of herself on Sunday night's show and said on camera "I just want to go home" which immediately prompted concern from viewers. Then on Monday morning, a spokesperson for the ITV confirmed Grace's premature exit from the show.

In the statement, they said: "Unfortunately Grace Dent has left the show on medical grounds. She has been a great campmate and will be missed by her fellow celebrities and viewers alike."

Grace admitted she was concerned that the rice and beans diet and revealed her strategy would be to eat as much lavish food as possible before heading into camp. Speaking at the airport earlier this month, Grace shared her fear the reduction of food would be a 'real shock to the system'.

Grace left the show on Sunday night (Tim Merry/Mirror Express)

Gregg doesn't believe Grace left the show because of the food (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Since leaving the show, many believe Grace's reason for quitting her I'm A Celebrity journey is likely due to the measly diet of beans and rice after spending most of her days 'dining out and eating well'. As a food critic, she spends most days of the week eating fancy food at restaurants so the change in diet was a "shock to her system".

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However, her close friend and MasterChef co-star, Gregg, has laughed off the rumours about Grace quitting the show due to the lack of good quality food. The TV star, 59, dismissed the suggestion that Grace's palate couldn't handle the rice and beans rations.

Speaking to the Express, Gregg said: "She's been a restaurant critic for years and years - she's eaten some really bad food. That won't have been it. I've stood beside her while she's cut into semi-raw chicken - there's no way that the jungle would've put her off."

While Gregg is certain that Grace wouldn't have left the jungle due to the food, he did send his well wishes and share his concern for the TV star. Revealing he is still unsure of the real reason why Grace left the show, he said he 'hopes she's okay'.

The change in diet was one of Grace's big worries prior to entering the jungle, with the food critic admitting she was "dreading being really hungry." She said: "Everything is filling me with a real sense of dread, but I am especially dreading being really hungry because I tend to eat four or five posh meals out a week because I am a restaurant critic."

Susan Knox