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Regional magazine publisher in brawl with Masterchef judge

A regional magazine publisher has been revealed as the man who was involved in a brawl with Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace during a five-course champagne reception.

Paul Bates, left, publisher of Cotswold Style magazine, said the bust-up with the TV judge at the four-star Wood Norton Hotel, near Evesham, had come “out of the blue”.

The fight happened on Saturday night as Paul was chatting to Wallace’s girlfriend Anne-Marie Sterpini at the the event, which was billed as Dinner With Gregg Wallace.

The incident has made national headlines and Paul was accused by Wallace of “inappropriate” behaviour – which he denied.

Paul told the Gloucestershire Echo: “I had my daughter with me for the evening. We had dinner and Gregg was the guest of honour. We adjourned to the bar and I was chatting with his girlfriend.

“Out of the blue, he just turned on me and pushed me across the room and I fell on a table.

“But later, Gregg gave me an apology and we had a couple of whiskies together. It was something and nothing.”

Witnesses described seeing the Masterchef judge rolling on the floor, fighting with Bates, and the pair also crashed into a table.

Around 80 diners paid £75 to attend the event, or up to £225 if staying overnight, and the menu was said to include smoked venison, scallops and duck.

Guests are understood to have stepped in to separate the former fruit and veg seller from the magazine publisher but they were later seen sharing a whisky together.

Wallace’s spokesman said on Sunday: “I can confirm Gregg was involved in a disagreement at an event last night. The situation was swiftly resolved.”

West Mercia Police said they had not received any reports of the incident.

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  • August 20, 2013 at 4:19 pm
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    How has their been such differing reports elsewhere in the media? Damn it, all i want is is the simple truth. Who do I believe?!

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