Masterchef in bizarre editing blunder as contestant nods to no-one after chef asked to be cut over Gregg Wallace scandal

Scottish Sun

16 hours ago

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THIS is the bizarre moment a Masterchef contestant nodded to an empty space in an awkward BBC edit - after a chef demanded to be removed from 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.
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There was a bizarre moment in tonight's Masterchef when the final three cooks were waiting to know who would be going home
Credit: BBC
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When Hazel made it through, she looked to her left and acknowledged someone, even though viewers couldn't see anyone there
Credit: BBC
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She then did the same reaction to Aileen, who was on her right, and being sent home
Credit: BBC
However, the BBC ultimately decided to air series 21, which had already been filmed.
Tonight's episode - the fourth in its run - saw five amateur cooks enter the kitchen, rather than the usual six.
But the usual 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.
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The two men in the competition - Sam and Trevor - made it through, leaving the three women - Hazel, Aileen and Marcella - to compete again.
After cooking a second dish, the ladies returned to the room but the footage was cut abruptly after Hazel walked in behind Marcella and Aileen.
As John revealed who the remaining two chefs to go through to the next round would be, the camera shots remained closely cropped into each of the three women, rather than the wider groups shots that usually feature at this stage in an episode.
Marcella was chosen first, before John announced Hazel's name.
However in a bizarre moment, Hazel - who was on one end of the line - looked to her left and gave a thankful nod before looking to her right and doing the same to Aileen, who was in the middle of the trio.
But as far as viewers could see, there was no one on Hazel's left that she would need to acknowledge.
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As Aileen left the room, Hazel appeared to gesture with her arm to her left, before a big empty space next to Hazel was clearly visible, making her reaction even stranger.
It was previously revealed that following John and Gregg's shock exits from the show, one contestant had asked to be edited out of the series.
A report had revealed more than 40 historic complaints against Gregg had been upheld, along with a claim that John once used a racist term.
Sarah Shafi, from Leeds, argued that airing the series sent the wrong message after the BBC sacked the presenters.
Ms Shafi, 57, claimed MasterChef producer Banijay had offered to edit her out of the episode she featured in.
"The focus of the series is the contestants, as it always is. The edit has been looked at in light of the upheld findings."
Banijay
But the participant dismissed the proposal and called for the whole series to be scrapped.
Once the corporation confirmed the season was going ahead, Ms Sharif agreed to be edited out.
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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Footage was edited tightly as the women came back into the kitchen for the result
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John Torode and Gregg Wallace will not host any further series of Masterchef
Credit: BBC
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The two women made it through to the next round
Masterchef airs at 8pm on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer