BBC cooking show returns with sacked hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode

MasterChef has returned to TV screens with the launch of a brand new sequence that was filmed earlier than hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode have been sacked.

The pair have been both fired last month after a report into conduct on the cooking present upheld allegations towards them.

The BBC determined to nonetheless present this yr’s novice sequence, saying it was “the fitting factor to do” for the cooks who took half. But it surely confronted a backlash from some girls who got here ahead, whereas former Movie star MasterChef contestant Kirsty Wark steered the BBC might have refilmed the sequence with out the 2 co-hosts.

Each presenters seem from the outset and all through the episodes, however they seem to have been edited to incorporate fewer jokes than common and fewer chat between them and the cooks.

The primary three episodes have been launched on iPlayer on Wednesday morning, with the sequence opener broadcast on BBC One at 20:00 BST.

Chatting with BBC Breakfast, Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy mentioned as a viewer, she too “actually will not be watching it”, however that it wasn’t her place to inform broadcasters what they might or could not present.

Wallace will likely be changed by Irish chef Anna Haugh within the closing episodes of the sequence, as a result of the allegations towards him – revealed by BBC Information – first emerged throughout filming in November.

In earlier years, Wallace and Torode have been a near-constant presence all through the episodes.

And within the first episode of the brand new sequence, they welcome the brand new contestants, introduce the challenges, interview the cooks whereas they prepare dinner, announce when “time’s up”, and style the dishes.

However there are fewer jokes, with the same old banter between the presenters and the cooks showing to have been lowered.

“There’s probably not any jokes and chat is saved to a minimal,” TV critic Scott Bryan mentioned of the brand new episodes.

“John and Gregg are there to elucidate issues to digital camera, hyperlink components of the programme and evaluate the meals, however they don’t seem to be there a lot for our leisure.”

His views have been echoed by Charlie Beckett, a former programme editor at BBC Information and Channel 4 Information, who informed BBC Radio 5 Stay: “In case you’ve by no means seen MasterChef earlier than, you’d simply assume it is a fairly extraordinary, common cooking programme. It really works completely effectively.

“However there may be a lot much less of the banter from the presenters. So it really works, however for normal viewers they in all probability will see that it feels actually completely different.”

The promotional picture on iPlayer exhibits the trophy quite than the presenters, not like in recent times.

Six cooks characteristic within the first episode, with the subsequent episodes set to introduce a brand new set of contestants.

Final week, one of many contestants on the brand new sequence of MasterChef mentioned she was edited out after asking for it to not be broadcast.

Sarah Shafi informed BBC Newsnight that “in a perfect world, what would have occurred is that it will have been axed” out of respect to these folks whose complaints have been upheld.

Her feedback got here as the BBC faced mounting pressure to rethink airing the sequence.

Broadcast union Bectu mentioned unhealthy behaviour “shouldn’t be rewarded with prime-time protection”, whereas a number one girls’s rights charity warned many individuals would really feel “deeply uncomfortable” to see the present on their TV screens.

A few of the girls who made allegations towards Wallace have additionally informed BBC Information they did not assume it needs to be aired, with one saying it confirmed “a blatant disregard for the individuals who have come ahead”.

Wark, who told BBC News final November that Wallace had informed “sexualised” jokes whereas filming Movie star MasterChef in 2011, mentioned she knew many ladies had requested the BBC to not broadcast the brand new sequence.

Chatting with the BBC’s Scotcast podcast, she requested: “It might, I suppose, simply have gone out on iPlayer, and would that make any distinction?”

Not screening it “would have been a horrible disgrace for all of the contestants, however they might have achieved all of it once more”, she continued, including: “I in all probability will not be watching.”

The controversy over MasterChef began final yr, when BBC News first revealed claims of misconduct towards Wallace.

In July, a report by the present’s manufacturing firm Banijay revealed that 83 complaints had been made towards Wallace with greater than 40 upheld, together with one among unwelcome bodily contact and one other three of being in a state of undress.

He has insisted he was cleared of “probably the most severe and sensational allegations”.

In a recent interview with The Solar, he mentioned he was “so sorry” to anybody he damage, however insisted that he was “not a groper, a intercourse pest or a flasher”.

The upheld complaint against Torode associated to a severely offensive racist time period allegedly used on the set of MasterChef in 2018.

The presenter mentioned he had “no recollection” of it and that any racist language is “wholly unacceptable”.

In her interview on Wednesday, the tradition secretary weighed in on the scandals involving the presenters, saying: “Like each member of the general public, I am completely appalled that that was allowed to occur in plain sight for a lot too lengthy.”

However she additionally applauded the BBC for signing as much as a brand new watchdog designed to enhance requirements within the inventive industries.

“I believe the BBC has proven management on this and I might urge different folks to comply with swimsuit,” she mentioned.

The BBC previously said it had not been “a simple choice” to run the sequence, including that there was “widespread help” among the many cooks for it going forward.

“In exhibiting the sequence, which was filmed final yr, it by no means diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings towards each presenters,” it mentioned.

“Nonetheless, we imagine that broadcasting this sequence is the fitting factor to do for these cooks who’ve given a lot to the method. We wish them to be correctly recognised and provides the viewers the selection to observe the sequence.”

In a evaluate, the Telegraph’s critic Ed Cumming wrote: “To point out how critically the BBC takes the allegations towards the presenters, they’ve edited out their jokes.” The ensuing sequence “lacks pizzazz”, he mentioned.

The Standard’s Vicky Jessop wrote: “No jokes right here – the manufacturing group presumably being terrified that something both of them says can be taken the mistaken manner.”

The primary episode “left a barely bitter style within the mouth”, she added – a sentiment echoed by the Independent’s Nick Hilton, who wrote that the sequence is “tinged with a wierd, bitter aftertaste”.

Extra reporting by Emmanuella Alausa.