MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has apologised for suggesting allegations against him came from a handful of “middle-class women of a certain age”.

“I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday, and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.

“I wasn’t in a good head space when I posted it. I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under seige, yesterday, when I posted it.

“It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology.”