Closer (UK)

5 MINUTES WITH...

Gregg Wallace, 55, bringing the cities to us (luckily...) in his latest TV show where he’s off exploring some of Europe’s hotspots…

- By Caroline Blight

Amini-break or a holiday in the sun? I’m 55 years old, and normally at my age, your children are grown up and you get your wife back. We’ve just had a baby [Gregg and his Italian wife Anne-Marie, 34, are parents to the adorable Sid, who’s almost one] so I’ll be in my seventies when that happens! I made her promise that we would have two weeks on our own together every year. I also love my weekends away.

Did you see much of Anne-Marie when filming this?

She was flying in and out just to have dinner with me! I filmed this last summer and it was just back to back European cities. This show has taught me how to be a better tourist and to see things in a more relaxed way. I think sometimes we try and cram too much in.

You got to eat a lot as well? Obviously, my background in television is food and, let me tell you, the most outstandin­g dish, by far, was a ¤1 kebab in Berlin. Just stunning. Was there much boozing involved? There were times when I looked at the wine list and thought, “I wish I could!” – especially in Berlin, where the beer is nice and there’s lots of it – but I couldn’t, because I was filming…

We see you speaking Italian in Rome – impressive…

My mother and father-in-law both live with me – and they speak Italian at home, for me and for the baby. I’m getting better, and it’s fantastic for my son having his grandparen­ts around. I’m also proud of the relationsh­ip between Sid and his older siblings [Gregg is also dad to Libby, 23, and Tom, 25].

 ??  ?? Gregg with his little bundle of joy
Gregg with his little bundle of joy

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