Gregg Wallace, MasterChef judge and presenter, took to Instagram on Tuesday night to announce that his father in-law had died at the age of 66.
The post showed a photo of wife Anne-Marie Sterpini’s parents, Massimo and Rina, with glasses of wine, with the caption: ‘Farewell Massimo Sterpini 1957 – 2023 my much loved father in law.’
Wallace, 59, has previously spoken of his fondness for his in-laws, who he had grown particularly close to since the pair moved in with the presenter, wife Anna and son Sid, five years ago.
Friends and fans all shared their condolences with the star. Among the people to comment were MasterChef 2019 champion Irini Tzortzoglou who wrote: ‘Very sorry to hear about your and Anna’s loss Gregg. He was too young! RIP.’
Delia-Maria Asser, who was a finalist in Masterchef 2019 alongside Yzortzoglou, said: ‘Thinking of you all Gregg and sending you so much love. So sorry to hear this.’
In addition to previous MasterChef contestants, support also came from the likes of celebrity chef Gennaro Contaldo, and journalist and broadcaster Harry Wallop, who commented: ‘I am very sorry to hear that, Gregg. Thinking of you & Anna and the family’.
Wallace met his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2013 through social media, after she messaged him to ask if rhubarb and duck went together after seeing him try the recipe. The pair later married in 2016, and welcomed their son Sid in 2019, who’s middle name is Massimo after Anna’s father.
Anne-Marie is Gregg’s fourth wife. The presenter’s first marriage in 1991 to then wife Christine lasted just six weeks. He wed second wife Denise in 1999 after six years of dating, and the pair share two children. In 2010 he married third wife Heidi Brown after the pair met via Twitter (now X) but the couple divorced after just 15 months.
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