MasterChef host Gregg Wallace previously admitted he was reduced to tears ahead of his exit from Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

Gregg Wallace broke down in tears while on Strictly Come Dancing (Image: ITV)

Gregg Wallace previously admitted that he was so overwhelmed with nerves on Strictly Come Dancing that he was reduced to tears.

The 60-year-old recently hit headlines after 13 people came forward with allegations of inappropriate comments. Wallace has since stepped back from hosting MasterChef while the BBC investigates the complaints.

Back in 2014, Wallace was partnered with Aliona Vilani when he appeared on series 12 of Strictly.

Overcome with nerves, his stage fright was so severe that he scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist. The confession came to light shortly after the broadcaster became the first star voted off the dance competition.

Performing a Charleston to Ray Charles’ Hey Good Looking, his efforts did not impress in the season’s first dreaded dance-off.

Speaking to the Daily Express in 2014, he said: “It was a huge relief (to leave Strictly) because I wasn’t good at it. It was causing a great deal of anxiety and stress – I just couldn’t do it.

Wallace’s stage fright was so severe that he scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist (Image: BBC)

“I was suffering from so much stage fright and severe anxiety that on Saturday morning I cried out of fear and desperation. It was absolute terror that I just couldn’t overcome. I thought everyone would judge me.”

The intensity of his anxiety was such that production chiefs had to rally around him with a morale-boosting chat before his performance.

They eventually brought him around by advising him: “Don’t try to be Gregg Wallace the MasterChef presenter”.

Wallace acknowledged post-show: “I now know it’s ok to mess up, it’s ok to be scared.”

Despite his best efforts, he just couldn’t whip up the right moves and his strained performance earned a mere 18 out of 40.

After dishing out sharp critiques on MasterChef, Wallace explained how the experience made him sympathise with contestants on the show.

Wallace and Aliona Vilani were the first couple eliminated from the competition in 2014 (Image: BBC)

He confessed: “All that kept going through my head was ‘what am I supposed to be doing?’ and ‘I am going to look stupid’, I just couldn’t control the fear.

“I can empathise with MasterChef contestants now – I never knew what they were suffering before. People kept saying ‘just enjoy it’, but that’s akin to telling someone terrified of flying ‘just enjoy it’ – it’s utterly nonsensical advice.”

A resurfaced clip from his time on Strictly showed the moment Aliona expressed her discomfort, stating she felt “distressed” after learning that Wallace doesn’t wear underwear.

In the footage, Wallace appears to rip his trousers, prompting Aliona to point out there had been a “bit of a wardrobe malfunction”.

Subsequently, the dad-of-three confessed: “I tell you something else as well, I don’t wear underwear.”

After his confession, Aliona stated to the camera: “I’m just way too distressed about the whole situation.”