Latest news with #MasterChefUK
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
MasterChef UK: who is on BBC show in week 2?
MasterChef UK is back with another set of heats - but who will feature? 📺 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... MasterChef UK continues this week on BBC. Series 21 is being broadcast - despite presenters being sacked. But who are the contestants in the heats this week? MasterChef UK will be welcoming a new batch of contestants into the kitchen this week. Two more heats are set to take place over the coming days. The BBC has pressed ahead with airing the season, which was filmed last year, despite sacking both of the presenters. The broadcaster described it as not an 'easy decision' but wanted to highlight the amateur chefs who took part in the series. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But who are the contestants taking part in the heats this week? Here's all you need to know: Who are the presenters - and why are they still on it? John Torode with Masterchef partner Gregg Wallace who were both sacked from the programme | BBC Gregg Wallace and John Torode are the presenters on the latest season of MasterChef. The duo had hosted it since the show returned in the 2000s. Both were sacked by the BBC after separate internal investigations, it was announced in July. The latest season was filmed last year, prior to the allegations being made, which is why they feature. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gregg and John will not feature in future full seasons of the show. A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. 'The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey. This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. MasterChef UK Heat 4 | BBC 'In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC. 'However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.' Who is on MasterChef UK this week? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad MasterChef UK 2025 Heat 3 | BBC The show will be back for its latest season from tonight (August 13). It will be broadcast on BBC One at 8pm with three episodes set to air each week - Wednesday to Friday. All three episodes will arrive on BBC iPlayer on Wednesdays, it has been confirmed. The amateur chefs competing in the first set of heats have been revealed. Heat 3 Aileen - 51, school admission assistant Hazel - 32, home maker Marcella - 39, global development director Sam - 28, vocational trainer Trevor - 50, project manager Heat 4 Emily - 50, advanced podiatrist Fay - 31, financial management consultant Gabriel - 29, personal trainer Mickaël - 46, teacher Nick - 39, personal carer Peter - 45, floor fitter How many people make it to the quarter-finals? The amateur cooks who take part in the heats will be hoping to make it all the way to the quarter-finals on Friday (August 15). Just three of the chefs from each heat will make it through to the next round - with six facing the critics at the end of the week. The best chefs from the quarter-finals will make it through to the MasterChef semi-finals and will return later in the season. During the early weeks of the competition, it will follow the format of heat, heat, and then quarter-final. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film.
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
MasterChef UK: who is on BBC show in week 2?
MasterChef UK is back with another set of heats - but who will feature? 📺 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... MasterChef UK continues this week on BBC. Series 21 is being broadcast - despite presenters being sacked. But who are the contestants in the heats this week? MasterChef UK will be welcoming a new batch of contestants into the kitchen this week. Two more heats are set to take place over the coming days. The BBC has pressed ahead with airing the season, which was filmed last year, despite sacking both of the presenters. The broadcaster described it as not an 'easy decision' but wanted to highlight the amateur chefs who took part in the series. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But who are the contestants taking part in the heats this week? Here's all you need to know: Who are the presenters - and why are they still on it? John Torode with Masterchef partner Gregg Wallace who were both sacked from the programme | BBC Gregg Wallace and John Torode are the presenters on the latest season of MasterChef. The duo had hosted it since the show returned in the 2000s. Both were sacked by the BBC after separate internal investigations, it was announced in July. The latest season was filmed last year, prior to the allegations being made, which is why they feature. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gregg and John will not feature in future full seasons of the show. A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. 'The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey. This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. MasterChef UK Heat 4 | BBC 'In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC. 'However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.' Who is on MasterChef UK this week? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad MasterChef UK 2025 Heat 3 | BBC The show will be back for its latest season from tonight (August 13). It will be broadcast on BBC One at 8pm with three episodes set to air each week - Wednesday to Friday. All three episodes will arrive on BBC iPlayer on Wednesdays, it has been confirmed. The amateur chefs competing in the first set of heats have been revealed. Heat 3 Aileen - 51, school admission assistant Hazel - 32, home maker Marcella - 39, global development director Sam - 28, vocational trainer Trevor - 50, project manager Heat 4 Emily - 50, advanced podiatrist Fay - 31, financial management consultant Gabriel - 29, personal trainer Mickaël - 46, teacher Nick - 39, personal carer Peter - 45, floor fitter How many people make it to the quarter-finals? The amateur cooks who take part in the heats will be hoping to make it all the way to the quarter-finals on Friday (August 15). Just three of the chefs from each heat will make it through to the next round - with six facing the critics at the end of the week. The best chefs from the quarter-finals will make it through to the MasterChef semi-finals and will return later in the season. During the early weeks of the competition, it will follow the format of heat, heat, and then quarter-final.
Newsroom
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsroom
Reality TV's Achilles' heel
Reality TV's summer of love ended with laughter, celebration and cheers but no amount of fireworks could make up for what's arguably been Love Island UK's most controversial season. Misogyny, sexist comments, and bullying behaviour – producers have been inundated with complaints about some of this season's contestants. One episode in particular prompted more than 1,000 complaints and a call from Women's Aid UK. Today The Detail speaks to senior entertainment writer Tara Watson about the show's problematic history, and Jane Herbert, an associate professor in developmental psychology from Wollongong University, about the wider implications of reality TV. 'We learn through just watching and observing the things that are in our world,' Herbert says. 'When we've got lots of programmes … presenting these extreme views to people, they start to see those behaviours as 'It's in my environment all the time, this must be the way that we're supposed to act',' she says. Shows like Love Island are premised on creating as much drama as possible, and one issue that arises is bigotry – when an individual has such a strong view on something that they refuse to even acknowledge another view. 'We're not understanding what we might call a theory of mind, that people have other opinions that might be different from ours and that it's worthwhile listening to those opinions,' Herbert says. It's important to note that Love Island UK isn't the only reality TV show with problems. Most recently MasterChef UK fired two of its hosts after separate allegations of racist remarks and sexual misconduct were substantiated. The host of another reality TV show, The Repair Shop, has recently been charged with two counts of rape. Ultimately it is up to individuals to choose what they watch and how much they consume, but Herbert says the widespread popularity and tactical evening release time makes shows like Love Island UK difficult to ignore. And with the rise of social media and online streaming, access to these kinds of shows – whether that be through full-length episodes or short social media clips – is easier than ever. 'It's changed a lot from when we were younger, and we only had a couple of channels, and everyone watched the same thing. 'Now our viewing is very individual. We can pick and choose when we watch it, we can be watching it sometimes when we are in very vulnerable states and we can also share snip-bits with people as well and present very distorted views,' she says. Herbert doesn't think we should get rid of reality TV, arguing it can actually bring up important discussions. 'Number of partners, or what things we enjoy in sex, there might not be a normal conversation and watching shows like [Love Island] might be helpful for getting some of those views out; but when it becomes unhelpful is when you only hear one side of the story or one becomes very dominant,' she explains. It's a genre that despite all its flaws remains incredibly popular. After facing a slump in previous years, this season's viewership of Love Island UK rose to over 2.6 million for the first episode. 'It feels like it's reality,' Herbert says. 'These shows, they draw us in because we don't know exactly what's going to happen next. But the target audience for these ones [Love Island] are vulnerable people who are just learning about relationships … so we need to think about the way we support people when they're watching these sorts of shows.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
The Guardian
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘We have a trout-off!' Wallace and Torode return to MasterChef
To say that this year's MasterChef UK has been an unmitigated calamity for the BBC feels like an understatement. In early July, Gregg Wallace was fired from the show after a series of sexual misconduct allegations, including one accusation of unwanted touching (45 out of 83 claims against him were upheld following an official report), leaving the BBC with a headache over whether to broadcast the latest series, which was filmed last autumn. It then emerged that the report into Wallace's behaviour had also highlighted an accusation of racist language on the part of his co-host of 20 years, John Torode. The BBC swiftly dispensed with him, too, despite him saying that he doesn't believe the incident happened. The corporation confirmed in late July that it would broadcast the series anyway; one contestant, Sarah Shafi, was so appalled by the decision that she asked to be edited out. Meanwhile, the broadcasting union Bectu said: 'If [the BBC] are serious about addressing this industry-wide problem, broadcasters should not reward bad behaviour with primetime coverage.' Perhaps unsurprisingly, no advanced screeners were offered to the media; the first three episodes landed unannounced on BBC iPlayer on Wednesday morning, ahead of its 8pm broadcast on BBC One. And so to the programme itself. Would the first episode be full of jarring jump-cuts, introduced to minimise the presence of Torode and Wallace? Would it seem as though the pair had just happened to wander on to the set now and again? It began like any other series of MasterChef, with the narrator, India Fisher, introducing the latest 'battle for the ultimate culinary prize' between 60 new contestants, over some characteristically tense music. As in previous series, Wallace and Torode featured prominently in the opening montage, alongside nervous contestants and lingering shots of plates buckling under the weight of jus and garnishes, with Torode saying: 'This is the sort of stuff that dreams are made of,' and Wallace describing one dish as 'a cracker of a job'. As usual, the first challenge was 'basic to brilliant'. As usual, Torode and Wallace introduced the conceit (contestants have to zhoosh up a workaday grocery item of their choosing). The duo stood and salivated at the prospect of digital marketing manager Thea's gorgonzola risotto and recruiter Gon's take on the Thai dish kaphrao. But there wasn't as much in the way of witty repartee between the hosts and the contestants, unlike the previous series, which opened with one participant declaring that they '[couldn't] wait to meet John and Gregg and hoping that Wallace would give their dish a 'phwoar' of approval. Nonetheless, both were definitely, firmly hosting the show. Wallace was limited to asking questions rather than offering up punchlines, but he delivered his usual gushing critiques. Speaking of business development manager Gemma's mackerel-heavy take on the Malaysian national dish, nasi lemak, he said: 'I could dip bread in this all day.' Torode quibbled over whether vocal coach Beth's chocolate and orange ganache tart was, in fact, merely a chocolate tart. Overall, very much business as usual. Gon and Shaun, a digital marketing manager, received the first aprons and progressed to the next round. Then it was on to the mystery box challenge, with the amateur cooks charged with fashioning a dish from any or all of trout, beetroot and chocolate. As always, there was some light chat from Torode and Wallace about the sort of mistakes the contestants might make, with comments that seemed far from truncated. 'We have a trout-off!' declared Torode as four contestants reached for the fish. Wallace quizzed writer Penelope about her skills with invention and asked whether her couscous was likely to turn into porridge. The critiques were largely effusive, even if Torode did have to console an overwhelmed Thea with the words: 'It's a big thing, isn't it MasterChef?' Those words would take on a greater meaning in the months after filming. Thea was booted off alongside Gemma, with Penelope and Beth bagging the next two aprons. In the final round, the four remaining contenders cooked for the 2024 champion, Brin Pirathapan, and the finalists Chris Willoughby and Louise Lyons Macleod. As the hosts fawned over Gon's Thai-influenced steak tartare and risotto and Shaun's scissor-cut noodles, it was just like old times. Pirathapan, Willoughby and Lyons Macleod took centre stage as the food started to appear, but not in a way that seemed out of the ordinary for the show's guest judges. Still, their presence was surely a boon to Banijay, the producer of the show, which could give over a huge chunk of the episode's final 20 minutes to their discussions about what makes a good tartare and whether fish and apples should ever be on the same plate. But there was still much time given over to Wallace and Torode, speaking with their mouths half-full, raving over a chicken dish that Wallace said he could have eaten by the kilo. By the time the names of the three contestants advancing to the next stage of the competition were announced over a bed of uplifting plinky-plonk music, it was easy to forget that there had ever been a national controversy. It was always going to be a challenge to be faithful to the series while also editing out the two people at the centre of it, but if episode one is anything to go by, it seems the BBC and Banijay have decided essentially to ignore the problem and hope that putting out more or less the same show as ever will suffice. Maybe further chopping the contributions of Wallace and Torode would have felt ludicrous, but it might also have been the right thing to do. Instead, the BBC is getting to have its chocolate ganache tart and eat it. Still, you imagine the ratings will be astronomical. Phwoar indeed.
Glasgow Times
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
First MasterChef episodes air after Gregg Wallace and John Torode sacked
The first three episodes of the 21st series were released on iPlayer early on Wednesday morning, ahead of the first episode airing on BBC One at 8pm. Both presenters can be seen in the introduction shots of episode one, with Torode saying: 'This is the sort of stuff that dreams are made of', while Wallace can be seen telling a contestant 'that is a cracker of a job'. MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace have fronted the BBC show since its 2005 revival (BBC/PA) In November 2024 it was announced that Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated, and last month a statement from Banijay UK and the BBC said they had agreed 'Mr Wallace's return to MasterChef is untenable'. Wallace issued an apology saying he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of the Lewis Silkin review that saw 45 out of 83 allegations made against him upheld. Torode was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of the Lewis Silkin review, but the TV star said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. Last month the BBC confirmed the series, which was filmed last year 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.' The BBC added that 'broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.' But the corporation said a decision had not yet been made regarding the celebrity series and the Christmas special. Say hello to the first batch of cooks to enter the #MasterChefUK kitchen for 2025! 👋 Here's when you can see them on BBC One and #iPlayer this week — MasterChef UK 🍴 (@MasterChefUK) August 5, 2025 In episode one of the new series, contestants Thea, Penelope, Gemma, Gon, Shaun and Beth battle it out in the first task before two of the contestants are put through to the quarter-finals. The remaining four cook again and Thea tears up during the task and says she 'didn't realise how stressful the MasterChef kitchen is'. Three of the contestants go through to the quarter-finals after another task sees them cook a two-course menu for three former MasterChef stars. In episode two, a host of new contestants – Charlie, Claire, Finley, Gifty, Jordan and Ruth – are asked to transform an everyday ingredient into a meal within 80 minutes. The contestants are then tasked with completing two more challenges as they are whittled down to three quarter-finalists. The six remaining contestants compete in the first quarter-final in episode three, where they are tasked with one challenge, to cook a dish that will impress restaurant critic William Sitwell. Sitwell's brief, to use either a sweet ingredient in a savoury dish, or a savoury ingredient in a sweet dish, inspires contestant Claire to cook a chocolate steak with marshmallow sweet potato fluff. After the challenge, three of the contestants are sent home with the remaining three sent to the knockout week. Gregg Wallace was sacked as MasterChef presenter following the inquiry into his alleged misconduct by production company Banijay (Yui Mok/PA) A message on the BBC media centre, alongside interviews with the contestants, said: 'Please note this information is accurate at the time of filming, certain aspects may have since changed but this represents the contributors as the competition starts.' One of this year's contestants, Sarah Shafi, asked to be edited out of the series. Asked whether the new series of MasterChef should be shown, Lisa Nandy told BBC Breakfast: 'It's absolutely not for me, as the Culture Secretary and a member of the Government, to tell broadcasters what they can and can't broadcast.' Asked what she thought as a viewer, she said: 'As a viewer, I won't be watching it.' She added: 'I've watched MasterChef on and off over the years, but I certainly won't be watching this series.' In an interview with The Sun last month Wallace apologised to anyone hurt by his behaviour, but insisted he is 'not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher'.
