MasterChef made its controversial return to BBC screens this morning, featuring dismissed presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode despite both being sacked last month following upheld misconduct allegations.
The first three episodes of series 21 were released on iPlayer at dawn, with the opening episode scheduled for BBC One at 8pm.
Kicking off the premiere, contestants Shaun, Gon, Beth, Thea, Penelope, and Gemma are introduced to viewers as they make their way to the MasterChef kitchen.
This is when BBC viewers catch their first glimpses of Wallace and Torode who are on hand to detail the first challenge of the series and welcome the budding chefs to the show.
The premiere sticks pretty much to the format fans have grown used to over the years, with a challenge in the kitchen soon followed by a critique from the judges.
Next up is a challenge of mystery items, with each contestant tasked with rustling up two dishes using a combination of trout, chocolate, and beetroot. Each contestant is allowed to decide how many of the ingredients they incorporate into their dishes.
Once again, Torode and Wallace deliver their verdict on the dishes before the contestants are then tasked with cooking up a creation for an expert panel.
Throughout the episode, Torode and Wallace whittle down the number of contestants, sending the weakest two home.
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While the format remained relatively unchanged, viewers immediately noticed significant alterations to the programme’s contents.
The typical banter between the hosts had been dramatically reduced, with interactions between presenters and contestants appearing minimal and strictly factual.
Social media users quickly commented on the alterations, with TV critic Scott Bryan acknowledging on X: “Gregg and Torode are very much in it, but all the ‘banter’ is cut out and it’s mostly them saying what the contestants are cooking and how it all tastes.”
This prompted other social media users to agree. “And how obvious is it one of the contestants have been edited out,” another person typed before a second simply put: “Highly edited.”
Complaints continued elsewhere as another X user replied to the show’s official account: “It’ll be cut so severely that 90% of it will be the restaurant bits, which are the most tedious to watch. I’ll give it a miss.”
There were others who’d watched the series premiere ahead of its linear broadcast who had a different opinion, however. “Just watched tonight’s episode of #MasterChefUK on @BBCiPlayer. So great to have it back, and there was some really ambitious cooking for Episode 1,” one fan praised.
A second weighed in: “Well done to the BBC for deciding to show the current series of #MasterChef. Good of you to give viewers the choice to watch or switch off.”
But not everyone was best pleased. “@bbcone @BBCWatchdog The decision to screen MasterChef tonight is unforgivable. There was no need to show this next series on BBC when they could’ve just streamed it on iPlayer and people who wanted to watch it would still have been able to. We will switch BBC off #Masterchef,” one X user argued. (sic)
The series, filmed last year before the allegations against Torode and Wallace surfaced, arrives months later than usual. Previous series typically launched in April rather than August, potentially affecting viewing figures.
The misconduct investigation into Wallace resulted in 45 of 83 allegations being upheld by law firm Lewis Silkin. These included complaints of unwelcome physical contact and three instances of being in a state of undress.
Wallace has maintained he was cleared of “the most serious and sensational allegations” and recently told The Sun he is “not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher.”
Torode faced a single upheld complaint regarding allegedly using a severely offensive racist term on set in 2018. The presenter stated he had “no recollection” of the incident and that any racist language is “wholly unacceptable.”
Both presenters were dismissed in July, with the BBC citing Wallace’s “learned behaviour” and inability to distinguish appropriate workplace boundaries as reasons for termination.
The BBC’s decision to broadcast the series sparked fierce criticism from multiple quarters. Broadcast union Bectu warned that freelancers whose complaints were upheld would “undoubtedly be triggered” by seeing the programme aired.
Several women who made allegations against Wallace told BBC News the broadcast showed “a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward.”
Contestant Sarah Shafi requested the entire series be axed rather than aired. “I didn’t say edit me out. I said, ‘Axe the show, don’t air the show. I’m asking you not to air the show,'” she told The Guardian.
After initially refusing Banijay’s offer to remove her segments, Shafi ultimately agreed to be edited out when the BBC confirmed the series would proceed.
The corporation defended its decision, stating there was “widespread support” among contestants for broadcasting.
Earlier today, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Breakfast she would not be watching the series, though she emphasised it was not her role to dictate what broadcasters could air.
“I’ve watched MasterChef on and off over the years, but I certainly won’t be watching this series,” Nandy stated.
The BBC has yet to decide whether to broadcast the celebrity series and Christmas special, both filmed earlier this year. The Christmas episodes feature Torode alongside Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace after he stepped away.
A BBC spokesperson acknowledged the decision had not been easy, maintaining that broadcasting honoured the contestants’ efforts whilst giving audiences choice. The statement insisted airing the programme “in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters.”