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.

MasterChef is back on our screens tonight after weeks of controversy surrounding former hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

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.