Gregg Wallace and John Torode have been given their marching orders in less-than-favourable circumstances. Yet the BBC is still thrusting series 21 of MasterChef (BBC One, 6 August, 8pm) into a primetime slot.
It’s a gamble. Presumably, the Beeb reckons pulling the plug would be unfair on the contestants. We’re reminded up top there are 45 of them (though it might be 44, after one, who had urged a cancellation of the series, agreed to be edited out). All will be hoping no further controversies – via Wallace’s sad middle-aged man chatroom, perhaps – erupt over the course of the 24-episode run.
The series has been scrupulously edited, reportedly cutting down on Wallace and Torode’s bantz and restricting them to more functional remarks. A relief for foodies, as much as it is a disappointment for fans of uninspired wordplay.
The yucks are left to the contestants. Tasked with elevating a humble ingredient, would-be social media node Gemma reimagines nasi lemak as “nasi le-mackerel… to try and be funny”. Well, good on her for trying.
With a couple of aprons handed out, the remaining cooks get into a “trout-off” before two get the boot. Then last year’s top three show up to pass the bulk of the judgement over the likes of apple gurnard salad, spicy beef tartare and wasabi watermelon ice cream (not all the same dish, mercifully).
It doesn’t really feel that different. The key note of melodrama remains: the tone-setting music is laid on as thickly as ever, and Torode describes an egg yolk as “a danger point”. Let’s hope that’s as alarming as it gets.
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