MasterChef: The Professionals winner reveals true feelings on Gregg Wallace

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Dan Merriman, who has been revealed as the winner of MasterChef: The Professionals, has given his verdict on Gregg Wallace.Gregg recently stepped down from his MasterChef role following a BBC probe into allegations of inappropriate sexual remarks and conduct, which he has strongly refuted.

His legal team asserted: "It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature."Despite the controversy, he appeared on our screens for the show's finale, recorded three months prior to the claims surfacing.However, Dan shared that his time on the show was positive: "My experience with Gregg was great.

He's a happy-go-lucky kind of bloke, very encouraging and very supportive. He gave me some great comments and feedback."After learning of his win in September, Dan returned home to an amusing surprise – a life-size cardboard cut-out of Gregg, courtesy of his partner.

Celebrating with a curry, Dan recalled: "I came back, and it was just my partner Chloe here, and I walked into the front room and there were balloons everywhere, party poppers, a bottle of wine and an Indian takeaway on the table, and there in the corner was a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Gregg Wallace with a party hat on top."Dan spent a year honing his skills at the Michelin-starred Northcote in Langho, close to Blackburn in Lancashire, before opting for a role that provided him with a more favourable work-life balance.