What do you want from this competition? Why are you here?” Gregg Wallace asked 70-year-old contestant Penelope at the start of the new series of MasterChef. Viewers wondered the same of the programme.

The channel said it was "the right thing to do" for the chefs who took part, but British broadcast union Bectu has criticized the BBC for rewarding "bad behavior" with prime-time coverage.

Lisa Nandy has said she will not watch the new series of MasterChef because she was “absolutely appalled” by the conduct of sacked presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The Culture Secretary said she “certainly won’t be watching this series” and believed many members of the public would feel the same.