The latest season of MasterChef, hosted by fired presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace, has been dealt a huge viewership blow.
The first three episodes of the pre-recorded season, which the BBC ultimately decided to air despite the misconduct scandal, are available to watch on iPlayer, and new episodes are airing on BBC One at 8pm.
The series, which premiered yesterday, underwent last-minute editing to focus on the amateur chefs over the recently sacked hosts – as well as cut out one of the cooks who spoke out against the series being released.
Fans shared their conflicted thoughts about the new series with some believing it was the right thing to give the contestants their chance to shine despite the troubled backdrop.
Many online, however, also vowed to boycott the new series which will be the final one helmed by both Wallace and Torode now they are being replaced.
This decision seems to have translated to viewership as the BBC News reports just under two million people (1.96m to be exact) tuned into last night’s episode.
This is a significant drop from last year’s premiere which saw 2.7 million viewers watch overnight – although there could be other factors at play including the differing release window and general move away from linear TV watching.
Especially as the episodes are also available online already.
Critics shared that the feel of this new season does feel different to episodes that have come before.
The Evening Standard called it an ‘absolute mess’ and The Telegraph said it ‘lacked pizzazz’.
Although The Guardian shared that, for the most part, it seems unchanged.
‘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,’ the review wrote.
Wallace – against whom 45 out of 83 allegations were substantiated in the Silkins review including a case of ‘unwanted physical contact – was suspended during the filming of this season with Irish chef Anna Haugh stepping in for the final episode.
The 60-year-old TV personality was officially removed from the show last month with his co-host following after him after a racial language accusation was upheld against him.
There is no word on whether the BBC plans to release the Torode Celebrity MasterChef season with Grace Dent or the two festival specials he is set to feature in will still be released.
The BBC is also yet to officially announce who will replace the pair, although it is believed to be Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt and Great British Menu’s Andi Oliver.
MasterChef airs tomorrow night at 8:30pm on BBC One and returns for the final three episodes next week.
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