MasterChef UK's stale format persists despite new judges Anna Haugh and Grace Dent
By
Patrick Hanlon
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
A critical opinion piece reflecting on the latest season of MasterChef UK, noting that while new judges Anna Haugh and Grace Dent are welcome additions, the show's format has been stale and sleepwalking for years. The author expresses relief at the absence of former judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode, whose catchphrases and predictable critiques had become tiresome. The piece argues that new judges alone cannot rescue a tired format.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledBY THE GRACE of Bourdain, at least this time around, we didn't have to endure eight weeks of culinary court jester Gregg Wallace yelling 'PHWOAR' to Anish's pani puri and 'LAAVLEE' to Susan from Swindon's toad in the hole.
Ditto spared from the painfully obvious, droning critiques of John Torode; 'you've got the sharpness from rhubarb and sweetness and creaminess from custard' — yeah, it's a bloody rhubarb and custard
Anna Haugh and Grace Dent may be welcome additions to the UK offering, but new judges alone can't rescue a format that's been sleepwalking for years.
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