Second MasterChef contestant edited out of series after BBC's decision to air despite John Torode & Gregg Wallace axings

Scottish Sun

a day ago

CHEF OUT Second MasterChef contestant edited out of series after BBC's decision to air despite John Torode & Gregg Wallace axings
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A SECOND contestant has been edited out of the latest series of MasterChef following the scandal surrounding its former hosts.
The aspiring chef, who asked not to be identified, didn't want to appear on the show given "recent events".
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Gregg Wallace and John Torode were sacked from the hit show
Credit: BBC
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The series went ahead despite the scandal
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Sarah Shafi said she didn't want to be in the show and asked producers to edit her out
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
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MasterChef's last episode had a bizarre editing blunder as a contestant nodded to no-one after a chef asked to be cut over the Gregg Wallace scandal
Credit: BBC
It follows a report which upheld claims against axed hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Sarah Shafi was the first contestant to pull out of the show after telling producers it shouldn't be aired.
The episode which would have featured the unnamed contestant was broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday.
But it only featured five chefs rather than the usual six, the BBC reported.
Sarah, from Leeds, believed airing Masterchef would send the wrong message about what happens after women report misbehaviour by powerful men.
The 57-year-old rejected an offer by MasterChef's producers Banijay to edit her out of her episode, wanting them to axe it entirely.
She was "flabbergasted" by the suggestion, but agreed once it was announced the series would air.
She told The Guardian: "I said: 'Axe the show, don't air the show. I'm asking you not to air the show.'
"Prominent figures have been abusing their power. What message does that send out to women?"
The former contestant said she didn't want to be part of a show with an "enabling environment".
It was said to be "quite a heated conversation".
A spokesperson for production company Banijay said: "One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included," the BBC reports.
"We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show."
The latest series of MasterChef was hit with controversy in the weeks leading up to its launch, with hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode being axed from presenting future series.
However, the BBC ultimately decided to air series 21, which had already been filmed.
The latest episode - the fourth in its run - saw five amateur cooks enter the kitchen, rather than the usual six.
But the long shot of the group outside walking towards the kitchen was missing, and instead, the edit featured close ups of their faces or in pairs.
Once inside, John and Gregg explained how two cooks would automatically go through to the next round after cooking their first dish.
In a bizarre moment, contestant Hazel gave a thankful nod before looking to the side, but as far as viewers could see, there was no one on Hazel's left that she would need to acknowledge.
A spokesperson for Banijay previously said: "As we said when we announced the show would be aired, this was not an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone would agree with it.
"Banijay consulted with all the contestants before that decision was made and there was widespread support for it going ahead.
"The focus of the series is the contestants, as it always is.
"The edit has been looked at in light of the upheld findings."
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