MASTERCHEF viewers have take aim at BBC bosses for “wasting licence payer money” during the latest episode.
Fans of the cooking series flooded social media with criticism after the contestants – as well as judges John Torode, 58, and Gregg Wallace, 59 – fly to Singapore for the latest challenge.
One MasterChef regular was quick to brand the trip a “lovely licence fee payers jolly” while others called out the fact the broadcaster has axed a host of other shows in budget cuts while splashing the cash on the flights.
An angry viewer raged: “Is it really necessary to take the 4 finalists to Singapore!!!!!! I’m presuming the licence fee is paying for this while you make cuts to lots of other programs.”
A second put: “The BBC can’t go 5 minutes without banging on about climate change, but flying the Master chef people out to Singapore is ok!” as a third put: “A lovely licence fee payers jolly for the boys.”
Another then posted: “Just an excuse for the gruesome twosome to go on a free jolly!”
One quipped: “What’s wrong with doing this in a studio in the UK?”
A final comment then flagged: “Why not fly the father of Singapore cuisine to London? Glad I personally defunded the BBC some years ago.”
This week was the start of Finals Week on the iconic foodie show, with the final four contestants all making the long-haul trip.
It saw the contestants explore iconic cuisine in Singapore as they continued to progress to the final.
At the top of the episode, host Gregg said: “Welcome to Singapore, one of the most diverse and exciting food cultures in the world.”
Fellow judge John added: “We’re going to give them challenge after challenge.
“Their culinary world is about to change forever.”
Sad times
Yet wasn’t all smiles and excitement in the Singapore kitchens.
The judges were forced to check in on one emotional contestant as she took to the kitchen.
Louise Lyons Macleod broke down in tears as her dish was branded a “disappointment” – just minutes after she admitted she was struggling in the kitchen.
She called on her co-stars for help in “frying her puri” as she realised she was running out of time.
Gregg asked her: “Louise, do you know that you’ve got to be gone in five minutes?”
MasterChef facts
MASTERCHEF has been a staple BBC series for years - but what are the key details?
- MasterChef launched on BBC One back in 1990
- It ran until 2001, then was revived in 2005 as MasterChef Goes Large
- John Torode joined the revamped series in 2005, where he teamed up with Gregg Wallace as hosts
- Controversial moments? In March 2018, Gregg refused to judge Zaleha Kadir Olpin’s stewed chicken rendang dish as he claimed it was ‘not crispy enough and could not be eaten.’
Attempting to plate up her scallops and vegetable dish, she snapped back: “Yeah! I’m stressed!
“I want time to make it look beautiful, and I’ve run out of time to make it look pretty.”
As soon as the dish was sent out, Louise became hugely emotional and broke down in tears.
She was seen dabbing her eyes with her white apron before she confessed: “It is not going the way I wanted it to!”
Team Lou
The 44-year-old chef, who hails from Staffordshire, previously gushed over her experience in the kitchen.
She said: “I’ve been cooking since I could walk!
“My mum would always get me involved in preparing the family meals.
“My father would take me fishing to catch our supper and would teach me to prepare and cook the fish.
“My granny was also a huge influence and would encourage me to help her in the kitchen.”
“I’ve been cooking since I could walk!
Louise
“For at least 15 years my friends and family have been badgering me to apply for MasterChef.
Louise went on: “The reason I applied this year was that I had just had my five-year cancer-versary.
“I was diagnosed when my daughter was 18 months old and our world imploded.
“My diagnosis and intense treatment took a long time to come to terms with and changed me.
“A positive change was to try to embrace all of life’s opportunities fully. I’m utterly thrilled to get through to the Finals!”
