Jackson sons pay tribute to dad on stage
GREGG Wallace is hoping for a bun in the oven soon – as he and his wife open up about starting fertility treatment.
The MasterChef star reveals how he and fourth wife Anna have been trying for a baby since marrying two years ago.
And they hope a romantic holiday in Italy could be just what’s needed.
Gregg, who has two grownup children, says: “So without saying anything too personal, we are going to have this holiday in August. And, medically, we are going to step it up and look at fertility treatment.
AMAZING
“I would love to be a dad again. We are desperate for a baby and we have been consulting with the doctor.
“I know Anna can’t wait to be a mum and she will be the most amazing mother.”
Gregg, 53, and Anna, 32, had an unconventional meeting over Twitter. Despite their 21-year age gap, Gregg says they’ve bonded over a love of cooking and food.
He married his first wife Christine in 1991, but that lasted just six weeks.
Two years later, he met his second wife Denise. The couple had two children and married in 1999 but divorced five years later after Gregg was caught having an affair with one of his employees.
In 2012 he married biology teacher Heidi Brown, who was 17 years his junior. They split 14 months later.
Two years ago he married Anna, and says he’s the happiest he’s ever been. “It’s my fourth marriage and I feel that love is an absolute lottery,” he says. “After many attempts, I have found that someone has given me the winning ticket.”
Father to Tom, 24, and Libby, 21, Gregg looks back on family life and says he’s learned from past mistakes.
Admitting he wasn’t the best single parent after looking after them for 15 years, he tells how he would throw money at any problem.
“They had a series of nannies and housekeepers,” he says. “I think it would have been much better if I had stayed at home, but then what financial position would the three of us have been in?”
He reveals how he now sees a therapist for anxiety, which he says stems from his desire to earn money after a difficult childhood.
“I have had therapy over my fear of being poor,” he says.
“Anxiety is a terrible thing. I have fought so hard and worked so hard because I have been trying to escape being poor.”
South Londoner Gregg started his career as a greengrocer in Covent Garden before moving into radio and TV.
He was the original presenter of Saturday Kitchen in 2002 until being replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson.
In 2005, he and John Torode began presenting and judging on BBC’s MasterChef. Meanwhile, a new series of the BBC’s Eat For Less starts on Thursday.
Gregg, who has dropped another stone this year, says his wedding photos inspired him to lose weight. “I once described myself as the fat bald bloke on MasterChef who likes pudding,” he says. “But not any more though. Now I am the leaner bald bloke on MasterChef who takes smaller helpings of pudding.”
He can be seen on tour from September 8 at venues around the country. For more info and tickets, go to greggwallace.com. THE Jacksons have performed for the first time since their dad Joe’s death last month.
The Motown legends played at ScotFest in Edinburgh, where they thanked fans for the sympathy they had received.
Youngest son Marlon, 61, said: “We want to thank you all for the support and prayers as we lost our father last week. He was the strength behind the Jackson 5 and was the creator of the Jackson 5.
“We know he’s looking down on us proud tonight.”
Joe died from cancer on June 27 at the age of 89.
Family members, including Michael Jackson’s son Prince, have since defended Joe, who was plagued by allegations of child abuse and violence.
After many attempts at love I have found the winning ticket GREGG WHO IS MARRIED FOR THE FOURTH TIME