Gregg Wallace Blames His Early Exit From 'Strictly Come Dancing' On Partner Aliona

Gregg Wallace has blamed his early exit from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ two years ago on the fact that his dancing partner didn’t “like” him, he has claimed in a new interview.

Speaking to OK! Magazine this week, the 51 year old ‘MasterChef’ presenter recalled his short-lived time on the BBC One Saturday night favourite back in 2014, and claimed that, although he isn’t a good dancer, he would have lasted longer on the show if his professional partner, Aliona Vilani, had liked him.

“I didn't particularly enjoy ‘Strictly’,” he admitted. “I love dancing but if I were paired with somebody who liked me, then I would have done better.”

Wallace was voted off after the second week of the 12th series, after the first public vote. It was a disappointment for both of them, but 32 year old Aliona went on to win the next series in 2015 with The Wanted’s Jay McGuinness before announcing her retirement from ‘Strictly’.

More: Former ‘Strictly’ dancer Kristina Rihanoff reveals she’s pregnant on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’

Despite his poor showing on ‘Strictly’, he claims that he hasn’t necessarily been put off doing reality TV again in the future. “If they want to give me a sack of treasure, I’d go into the jungle,” he revealed, meaning that he might go on ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ sooner rather than later.

Wallace has previously revealed he “absolutely hated” his time on ‘Strictly’ - so much so that he was reduced to tears in rehearsals.

He told The Mirror last year: “I didn’t enjoy it in any way, shape or form. Well, apart from the last day on the final… I enjoyed the practising and the physical side of it, I liked that, but performing something that I wasn’t good at? No. I hated it. Absolutely hated it.”

He wasn’t paid enough for the “hell” he says he was put through, continuing: “I was so bad my face broke out in cold sores, that’s how stressed I was! It was incredible, I’d never experienced anything like it. I was in tears on the second week.”

More: Professional dancer Aliona Vilani quits ‘Strictly Come Dancing’