PENNY Lancaster says hubby Sir Rod Stewart gave her the courage to call out bullying by TV’s Gregg Wallace.
She said other women have also been in touch to share their experiences with the shamed host of MasterChef.
In an online post Sir Rod, 79, called Wallace a “tubby, bald-headed, bully” for his treatment of Penny, 53, on the celebrity version of the BBC cooking show in 2021.
Loose Women’s Penny said: “Obviously it didn’t surprise me that my husband had done that and it didn’t surprise me about the incidents that Gregg Wallace has been accused of.”
Asked if she would not have felt confident speaking up without rocker Sir Rod’s support, Penny said: “Exactly, yeah. That is why you so often hear historical cases and people kind of question why it takes someone so long to come forward.
“It is that bravery of: ‘Maybe I am the only one? Maybe I won’t be taken seriously?’ Then suddenly you have the backing and support of other people and you feel like you are going to be listened to.”
Speaking about other women reaching out to her, she said: “In and around that conversation, yeah.
“I know a lot of people in the industry and it hasn’t really been a surprise to anyone.
“It is just a shame that so many women feel like they can’t reach out at the time because they don’t feel supported – so hopefully this will have more of a mark on the industry to protect and safeguard.”
Wallace, 60, is suspended over claims of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
GARETH Southgate played Adele’s Someone Like You on repeat after deciding to quit as England boss.
It is one of eight tracks the 54-year-old chooses on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs this morning.
He tells host Lauren Laverne: “I kept playing it towards the end of the last Euros because I knew I was going to be leaving.
“Even if I hear it today, it relates to my relationship with England and their relationship to me and how I feel about it all.”
Host Lauren Laverne said: “So leaving someone who is once in a lifetime behind?”
Gareth responded: “Yeah and they have got to move on and you wish them the best and there are regrets but there are actually memories that were made and there were so many lines within it they really resonate with me.”
Its lyrics include: “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you; I wish nothing but the best for you, too; Don’t forget me, I beg; I remember you said; Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead.”
Gareth thanked Adele for her support during the Euros in 2020 during ITV’s An Audience with Adele at the London Palladium in 2021.
It comes as The Sun on Sunday revealed last week that Gareth will get a knighthood in the New Year Honours List.
He will follow in the footsteps of Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alf Ramsey in being knighted for services to sport after steering the men’s footie side to two Euro finals.
Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel takes over as England head coach on January 1.
MARCUS Rashford’s Love Islander girlfriend has dumped him — ahead of her speedy return to the villa in the new year.
The Sun on Sunday last month revealed the Man Utd star, 25, had gone on dates with Grace Jackson, also 25, who was on this year’s series of the ITV show.
A source revealed: “Grace realised that Marcus wasn’t serious about her and has unfollowed him on Instagram.
“She realised there was no future so she has decided to cut ties.
“When the opportunity arose to take part in Love Island All Stars this winter Grace jumped at the chance, she is still young in her career and is keen to maximise the exposure to help with her modelling work and net campaign deals.
“If she finds love on the show that’s a bonus, especially since she didn’t meet a suitable match in the summer.
“As far as she is concerned it’s Marcus’ loss, she is putting her best foot forward and can’t wait to enjoy some winter sun in gloomy January.”
Marcus had previously been in a long-term relationship with childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi before they split last year.
In August, former shop worker Grace, who has amassed 594,000 followers on Instagram since leaving the villa, landed a six-figure deal with fashion and shoe brand EGO.
An ITV spokeswoman said: “Any names suggested are speculation until our line-up is officially announced.”
Marcus, who has won 60 senior international caps for England, was dropped from the Manchester derby facing bitter rivals City last weekend and hinted last week that he is ready to leave Old Trafford.
Speaking at a visit to his old primary school, Button Lane, in Manchester, to hand out Christmas presents, he said: “I think I’m ready for a new challenge.”
CHLOE Madeley has spoken for the first time about being groped by a rugby star, revealing: “He grabbed my a*se”.
The Sun on Sunday revealed last month how it happened as she was in a DJ booth with her then-husband James Haskell.
He wrote about it in a book he co-wrote — saying one player propositioned Chloe while his “supposedly squeaky clean” team-mate touched her bum.
Speaking exclusively to our Fabulous magazine, Chloe, 37, said: “I don’t want to belittle anyone else’s awful experiences at the hands of disgusting men and I would never want to be insensitive.
“But this incident was such a non-event for me.
“Everybody had been drinking for multiple hours. It happened so quickly and I was like, ‘OK, some guy just grabbed my arse’.
“I told James about it on the way home. He was really good and asked how I felt. I said, ‘Hmm, everyone was drunk,’ and I honestly never thought about it again until he wrote the book.”
But fitness trainer Chloe, who split from England rugby star James in 2023 after nearly ten years together, added: “I don’t think it’s OK for men to touch women or say inappropriate things thinking it’s ‘banter’.
“But it was one of those situations where I didn’t feel threatened and no trauma had been inflicted.
“It was just a thing that happened. In that particular environment, it wasn’t particularly surprising.
“I was hesitant to come out and say that. Either I lie and pretend it was soul-destroying or tell the truth and look insensitive, which I’m not trying to.”