Gregg Wallace won’t return to ‘Saturday Kitchen’.
The 51-year-old presenter fronted the first series of the cookery show in 2002, before being replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson just 12 months later, but he has admitted there’s no way he’d slip back into his apron when current host James Martin steps down later this month.
Asked if he’d return to the tummy-gurgling show, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "No, because I think you have to give up every Saturday morning and I don’t think I’ve got it to give. I would rather fulfill the work obligations I have got at the moment. I wouldn’t be able to do ‘Saturday kitchen’, I haven’t got the Saturday mornings to give."
And with him and James – who decided to hang up his oven gloves after 10 years so that he could have his Friday nights back and enjoy Saturday morning lie ins – out of the picture, Gregg does have someone in mind who will fit the bill.
Asked who he thinks should present the show, he said: "My friend [Australian celebrity chef] John Torode!"
Meanwhile, for now, Gregg has his hands tied up with ‘The Ideal Home Show’, which returns to London Olympia from March 18 until April 3, where he’ll offer further insight into food and drink. Tickets are available now at www.idealhomeshow.co.uk