BBC/Shine TVMasterChef 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 each fired final 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 best factor to do” for the cooks who took half. Nevertheless it confronted a backlash from some ladies who got here ahead, whereas former Superstar MasterChef contestant Kirsty Wark steered the BBC might have refilmed the sequence with out the co-hosts.
Each presenters seem from the outset and all through new sequence, which launched on BBC iPlayer on Wednesday morning, nevertheless it seems to have been edited to incorporate fewer jokes than standard and fewer chat between them and the cooks.
The primary three episodes have been launched on iPlayer, with the sequence opener to be 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 may or could not present.
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 cook 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 diminished.
“There’s not likely 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 digicam, 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 advised BBC Radio 5 Dwell: “In the event 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’s 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 reveals the trophy relatively than the presenters, in contrast to 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 advised BBC Newsnight that “in a great world, what would have occurred is that it could have been axed” out of respect to these individuals whose complaints have been upheld.
Her feedback got here because the BBC confronted mounting strain to rethink airing the sequence.
Broadcast union Bectu mentioned dangerous behaviour “shouldn’t be rewarded with prime-time protection”, whereas a number one ladies’s rights charity warned many individuals would really feel “deeply uncomfortable” to see the present on their TV screens.
A few of the ladies who made allegations towards Wallace have additionally advised BBC Information they did not assume it ought to be aired, with one saying it confirmed “a blatant disregard for the individuals who have come ahead”.
Wark, who advised BBC Information final November that Wallace had advised “sexualised” jokes whereas filming Superstar 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 may have completed all of it once more”, she continued, including: “I in all probability will not be watching.”
The BBC beforehand mentioned it had not been “a simple determination” to run the sequence, including that there was “widespread help” among the many cooks for it going forward.
“In displaying the sequence, which was filmed final yr, it on no account diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings towards each presenters,” it mentioned.
“Nevertheless, we consider that broadcasting this sequence is the best factor to do for these cooks who’ve given a lot to the method. We would like them to be correctly recognised and provides the viewers the selection to look at the sequence.”
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 much 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 individuals to observe go well with,” she mentioned.
The controversy over MasterChef began final yr, when BBC Information first revealed claims of misconduct towards Wallace.
In July, a report by the present’s manufacturing firm Banijay revealed that greater than 40 complaints towards Wallace had been upheld, together with one in all unwelcome bodily contact and one other three of being in a state of undress.
He has insisted he was cleared of “essentially the most severe and sensational allegations”.
In a latest 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 criticism towards 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”.
Extra reporting by Emmanuella Alausa.
