The Telegraph slams the 'cursed' new series of MasterChef

Western Telegraph

a day ago

Both original hosts, John Torode and Gregg Wallace, were sacked from the show following an inquiry into allegations against Wallace.
51-year-old Grace Dent was confirmed as taking the role over from Wallace, 60, back in December.
In July, the BBC confirmed that the 2025 series of MasterChef, which was filmed in 2024 before allegations against Wallace and Torode were upheld, would be broadcast in August, adding that it had 'not been an easy decision in the circumstances'.
Lisa Nandy recently said that she will not watch the new series because she was 'absolutely appalled' by the conduct of its presenters.
I'm glad they're showing #Masterchef - after all the hard work they've put in, it's only fair on the contestants that it's aired. If you're upset by Gregg and John....don't watch - simple. 🤷‍♀️ — Nikki 🇬🇧 🇫🇮 🇨🇦 (@MJ_JJ061215) August 6, 2025
Wallace and his representatives vehemently deny all the claims made and said it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
Although the Secretary of State for Culture wasn't watching, one particularly riled reviewer from The Telegraph was.
Ed Cumming wrote: "On the evidence of the first episode – of three that have been put up on iPlayer – Nandy is not missing much. To show how seriously the BBC takes the allegations against the presenters, they have edited out their jokes.
"Disgraced presenters might still be permitted to do continuity and exposition, but under no circumstances must they do banter.
"Instead, they talk earnestly about the contestants' backgrounds and the food they are cooking. It is an intriguing idea, that after a scandal you could still be Ernie but not Eric.
"Given the normal level of wit on display, not having Wallace and Torode's jokes might have been a mercy, but the result is oddly flat. MasterChef is well-suited to being craftily chopped up, as the drama is usually constructed in the edit anyway, but the new series lacks pizzazz.
Recommended reading:
"Instead, it has a cursed, Night of the Living Dead kind of quality. We know that the presenters are doomed, but on screen, as they blithely criticise the sauces, they don't.
"'It's a big thing, MasterChef, isn't it?' Torode tells one struggling contestant, midway through the episode. 'People don't realise.'
"We really do. We get it. Now please can we not hear the word 'MasterChef' for a long, long time."
MasterChef is on BBC One at 8pm on August 6; the first three episodes are available now on BBC iPlayer