Vicky Jessop: I watched ‘MasterChef' so you don't have to — why are Gregg Wallace and John Torode still on TV?
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Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Vicky Jessop: I watched ‘MasterChef' so you don't have to — why are Gregg Wallace and John Torode still on TV?
Did we really expect it to be good? Despite scandals galore, MasterChef season 18 shall go to the ball, if by 'ball' we mean an unedifying quiet launch on BBC iPlayer followed by an equally low-key airing last night on BBC One.
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Destination X airs shock double exit as three axed players return in show twist
DESTINATION X aired a shock double exit tonight - as three axed players returned in a major show twist. The BBC programme sees a group of strangers try to figure out where they are in Europe through a series of clues in a bid to win £100,000. 4 The three players who had failed to secure a boarding pass in episode one returned Credit: BBC 4 James found himself on the losing team after a challenge on a luxury train Credit: BBC The second episode's destination was the Matterhorn, and tonight's edition saw the remaining players head off to one of the five countries that border Switzerland. At one point, the group took a train through a scenic forest, with a challenge allowing one team to get further clues as to where they were. They then returned to the bus and hit the road once again, failing to realise that they hadn't actually gained any ground until they found themselves back at the same train station the next day. Host Rob Brydon had a further surprise in store for them, by bringing out Ashvin, Claire and Chloe-Anne. Viewers will remember that the three players had failed to make it on to the bus in episode one, but had now returned for a second chance to join the adventure. Rob explained that the members of the losing team from the previous task would each join forces with one of the returning players and go head to head. These were James, Ben, Darren and Nick, but the winning team - Judith, Josh and Saskia - had the chance to save one of them outright, and they chose Darren. The remaining trio then picked their teams and working together, they all had to go through a box of items for a specific destination chosen by the announcer, and find pieces that had nothing to do with that location. After two rounds, James and Ashvin were the losing team, and they then had to go head-to-head for the final spot on the bus. In the end, Ashvin picked the right items, meaning James had to leave there and then. Fans stunned as THREE Destination X contestants are immediately axed in brutal opening twist The news left the rest of the team - in particular Saskia - shocked, and James was in tears as he said goodbye. But that wasn't the end of the departures, as the players still had to lock in where they thought this week's final destination was, with the person furthest away being sent packing as well. Having seen the clues, the winning team were convinced it was Munich in Germany, but had decided to try and throw the losing team off by suggesting it was Dortmund. After everyone had locked in their locations, Rob revealed the sad news that Ben had been the furthest from the destination - which was Munich - and that he would be leaving the bus immediately. Destination X continues tomorrow night at 9pm on BBC One. 4 It wasn't a very happy reunion Credit: BBC
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Five years ago, BBC promised to clean up its act… here's why it still hasn't learned lessons with more scandals coming
MILLIONS of viewers last night witnessed the warped spectacle of two men fronting a BBC show they had both been sacked from – one amid claims of sleazy behaviour, the other for alleged racist language. Yes, Gregg Wallace and John Torode were both back on our prime-time screens as the pre-recorded series of MasterChef aired. 6 A victim of disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards lashed out at the BBC after it emerged bosses were warned of his behaviour as far back as 2012 Credit: BBC 6 The BBC faced outrage after airing rapper Bobby Vylan's antisemitic Glastonbury rant - despite boss Tim Davie being at the festival himself Credit: PA Which was a staggering turn of events given that this cookery contest had served up the latest scandal to hit the corporation. I'm sure the Beeb would have gladly binned the whole thing and pretended it never happened. Instead, it took the divisive decision to air the show, a resolution born out of the corporation constantly sticking itself between a rock and a hard place. Always hamstrung If it had shelved it, 60 budding chefs would have had their hopes dashed and may even have sued the producers. If the BBC ran the show, it provided a platform for two presenters who were forced out under a massive cloud. So it went for the latter and is now under fire from all quarters. But, as with so many other examples of Beeb controversies, it was another case of Broadcasting House execs staggering from one self-induced crisis to another. The organisation is riddled by cliques, hierarchies, dogma and hypocrisy (all of which should not exist in such a liberal, egalitarian body). As a result, it is always hamstrung whenever a problem rears its head. The MasterChef debacle was all about behaviour that dated back years and yet the Beeb only just dealt with it now. Fury as Glastonbury crowd chants 'death to the IDF' during Bob Vylan set aired live on BBC But it is the same story with the Huw Edwards affair, the investigation into Strictly's Giovanni Pernice and now complaints about the behaviour of BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty. With a bizarre reverence for talent, the knotweed of questionable conduct is not nipped in the bud. Instead it is allowed to fester and, in some cases, spread. Bobby Vylan's antisemitic rant at Glastonbury was a perfect example of a situation where the whole country asks of its national broadcaster: 'How on EARTH could you have let this happen?' Which is why when this week we learned of accusations of drug-taking on a family show like Strictly, there was no surprise. Just further disappointment. Five years ago, when Tim Davie became Director-General, he made a pledge that the Beeb would clean up its act amid a string of similar controversies, but far from having learned lessons, it is like nothing had ever happened. 6 BBC Breakfast has been mired in allegations of bullying and toxic behaviour Credit: BBC 6 The investigation into Strictly's Giovanni Pernice has not marked the end of controversy for the family favourite show Credit: BBC - Check Copyright Holder It all seems so inexplicable, too. The BBC broadcast of rapper Bobby Vylan's antisemitic rant at Glastonbury was a perfect example of a situation where the whole country asks of its national broadcaster: 'How on EARTH could you have let this happen?' The mire is certainly not down to a lack of resources. Deep inside the Beeb's annual report was an interesting statistic that highlighted that its spend on staff pay has shot up by £66million in a year. Figures also reveal that the number of 'senior leaders' earning more than £250,000 also rocketed by nearly 60 per cent. Meanwhile, the report showed that although the corporation says it faces 'tight finances' and 'rising costs', its total spend on 'salaries and wages' rose from £1.25billion to £1.32billion. That is an increase of more than five per cent — or the equivalent cost of nearly 400,000 current TV licences. The BBC's problem is not just rooted in it getting things wrong, either. It is the perception of its actions that sees it shoot itself in the foot. My own experience of the Beeb, as The Sun's TV Editor, is that whenever there is a whiff of controversy, it deals with things in a very prescriptive way. Too prescriptive. When we have discussed controversies surrounding individuals on shows produced by Banijay, who make MasterChef for BBC One, corporation PRs say it is solely for the production company to deal with queries. But they are independent companies who are not obliged to the Press quite like the Beeb is. Rebuild trust That is despite the fact we end up watching these shows, and the individuals involved, on the BBC. Tim Davie himself, in dealing with the MasterChef fallout, stated unequivocally: 'If someone is found to not live up to the values, we expect the independent company, Banijay in this case, to take action and report back to us on what they have done. Tim Davie recently said that the MasterChef scandal had convinced him the corporation had to 'draw a line in the sand' when it came to bad behaviour. But lines can blur and sands always shift 'These aren't BBC employees, but we absolutely expect action to be taken.' But if the Beeb is to ensure production companies are transparent and proactive with it, it should also insist they act similarly with the media. That is another way that public trust can be rebuilt. Davie recently said that the MasterChef scandal had convinced him the corporation had to 'draw a line in the sand' when it came to bad behaviour. But lines can blur and sands always shift. So the Director-General is going to have to do a lot better than that. 6 The MasterChef debacle was all about behaviour that dated back years, and yet the Beeb has only just dealt with it Credit: BBC
