When it comes to cooking competitions, fans are usually more focused on the dishes than the camera cuts.
But in the latest season of MasterChef, the conversation has turned from soufflés and sauces to something far stranger — bizarre and repetitive edits involving former host Gregg Wallace.
Scandal Shadows the Show
Wallace and long-time co-host John Torode were both dropped by the BBC earlier this year after separate complaints about their behaviour were upheld.
Despite this, the pair remain in the final edits of the show — something that has left many viewers scratching their heads.
The Viral TikTok Clip That Sparked It All
TikTok user Gingernat Design shared a now-viral video showing one particularly unusual moment.
In the clip, a contestant is talking about her performance with Torode and Wallace.
But instead of a natural flow, the same shot of Wallace — wearing a fixed grin — appears three times in a row within seconds.
“Clever editing from MasterChef,” the creator wrote, adding, “Whether this is to do with the allegations or not I don’t know, but it’s jokes how they just froze Gregg Wallace for an entire conversation.”
Fans Call It “Demented”
Viewers didn’t hold back in their reactions online.
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“I saw this and it looked absolutely demented,” one person wrote.
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Another joked: “Have they had Gregg killed and stuffed and just permanently placed like that throughout? Would certainly solve a lot of problems.”
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Someone else added: “Weren’t they supposed to remove the creepy bits…?”
Many were also surprised that Wallace and Torode were still appearing so prominently.
One comment read: “I thought they’d be in the show much less — no cutaways unless they were talking.
It seems like the programme has hardly been edited…”
Industry Expert Weighs In
A former TV post-production worker offered a possible explanation, suggesting that with a tight turnaround, editors may have simply reused shots to cover any removed content.
“They wouldn’t be able to completely edit the hosts out unless they re-shot all their segments with new presenters,” they explained.
“That’s not realistic because of cost.”
Some viewers noted that the chosen repeated shot didn’t help matters — with one writing: “I’m crying… and they picked a clip where he looks SO dodgy.
Not helpful at all considering the recent allegations.”
Contestants Cut from the Show
This isn’t the only edit MasterChef has faced.
Another contestant, Sarah Shafi, along with one unnamed competitor, asked to be removed from the series entirely following “recent events.”
Sarah later shared that she felt “pressured” into agreeing to be cut from the final edits.
The Allegations Against the Hosts
At the end of last year, Wallace was accused of making sexualised jokes and other inappropriate remarks towards women over a 19-year period.
More than 50 people have since contacted the BBC with further claims — including allegations he groped a staff member and pulled his trousers down in front of another.
Wallace has denied all accusations but was sacked by the BBC in November.
Torode’s upheld complaint involved his use of an extremely offensive racist term on set in 2018.
