Furious MasterChef fans blast the BBC for ‘celebrating’ Jack the Ripper in controversial challenge branded ‘tasteless’
MASTERCHEF fans have blasted the BBC for airing a “tasteless” episode ‘celebrating’ Jack the Ripper.
The show’s controversial challenge fuelled fury during the semi-final of the competition.
Six contestants battling it out for a place in the final were tasked with creating a theatrical dish to impress the judges.
Circus performer contestant Chris breathed fire live in the MasterChef kitchen as part of his food theatre – which had a Jack the Ripper theme.
The serial killer who murdered five women on the streets of London in 1888 and was never identified.
One angry viewer said: “How delightful to see @MasterChefUK celebrating the murder and dismemberment of women. #BadTaste in so many different forms.
“Worst episode I have ever seen. Who on earth at @BBCOne thought this was a good idea.”
Another said: “Apparently it’s ‘really tasty food’ but there’s a guy on #Masterchef who has just done some kind of cabaret/meal event on the theme of Jack the Ripper (steak tartare) which is frankly pretty tasteless.”
Someone else said: “Can’t beat a lovely bit of nosh themed on a man who committed some of the most heinous acts of assault and murder of women in British history #masterchef”
A viewer added: “Did that just happen? A man on #masterchef just served beef tartare on a bone as part of a celebration of Jack the Ripper dish? Murdered women’s innards, so creative. What?”
The served a detective-themed meal included a dish of beef tartare with roasted bone marrow and a gin and tonic gel served in a locked box.
Chris told judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace: “You are now detectives and you have to work out who I am by the clues inside the box.”
Gregg guessed: “I think he’s Jack the Ripper.
“You took us back to Victorian East London but you brought us right up to date with really modern, very tasty food.”
MasterChef
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.’