The 59-year-old culinary kingpin found himself in hot water after dishing out his Saturday schedule and some personal tidbits to The Telegraph, only to face a storm of “cruel,” “nasty,” and “unfair” comments from the online brigade.
Wallace, who’s been whipping up a storm both in the kitchen and on the scales with a dramatic 5-stone weight loss, took to Instagram live, visibly shaken, to set the record straight. The critique? That Wallace supposedly clocks more hours on his computer than with his son, Sid.
But the MasterChef judge was quick to spoon-feed critics a dose of reality, explaining, “I’m with my son in the house all the time.”
He stressed that the reported schedule was merely a “snapshot of one Saturday,” not a minute-by-minute account of his dad duties.
The seasoned chef was nearly brought to tears over insinuations that his son was “unwanted,” revealing the heartache and journey he and his wife Anna, who’s 22 years his junior, endured for two years trying to conceive.
Wallace, who has two adult children from a previous marriage, admitted he hadn’t planned on expanding his family at his age, but love and a desire to fulfill his wife’s wish for a child led them down the path to parenthood once more.
Amidst the personal turmoil, Wallace’s Saturday saga had tongues wagging for other reasons too. His revelation of a 5am rise, a penchant for historical novels, and a disciplined gym routine that includes persuading staff to open early for his exclusive use, seemed more akin to a character study than a day in the life of a celebrity chef.
Breakfast at the local Harvester and a rigorous step count regime follow, before returning home to a lunch prepared by Anna and precious time with Sid, who is non-verbal and autistic.
Wallace’s afternoon is reserved for “me-time,” where he indulges in his love for history and video games, before donning the chef’s hat once a week to cook for the family.
Despite a health kick that bans takeaways and limits alcohol, Wallace’s day winds down with an early 8pm bedtime, choosing reading or films over “sitting on the sofa eating biscuits.”
The candid peek into Wallace’s weekend quickly became fodder for social media, with comparisons to Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge character and a mix of bafflement, amusement, and critique from the public. Fans and foes alike couldn’t resist poking fun at his unique blend of celebrity lifestyle, historical hobbyism, and health-conscious habits.
But amidst the chuckles and jabs, Wallace’s message was clear: he’s a father first, a culinary whiz second, and a man who simply wants to live his life, free from the “cruel” and “unfair” judgements of the peanut gallery.
