MasterChef: The Professionals: Series 13 (partially found footage of unidentified contestant on BBC cooking show; 2020)
MasterChef: The Professionals is a spin-off of the cooking competition MasterChef. Airing since 2008 by the BBC, this spin-off as the name implies features experienced chefs competing in a knockout format to earn the prestigious MasterChef title. Series 13 Episode 7 was broadcast on 24th November 2020 and saw chefs Burhan Ahmed and Guillaume Dunos qualify for the Quarter-Finals at Scott's expense. However, at the episode's beginning, a statement informed viewers that a fourth contestant had been edited out of the programme.
Background
Series 13 Episode 7 would feature four competing chefs as part of the heats stage of MasterChef: The Professionals.[1][2][3] Among them included Burhan Ahmed, an experienced Chef de Partie; Guillaume Dunos, Chef Patron of the London-based La Ferme; and Scott, a chef at a Manchester bistro.[4][5][1] The episode was split into two challenges; a skills test, where the contestants must cook a set dish within a limited duration, and a signature dish, where they have an hour to prepare their own meal.[2][3] For the skills test, Ahmed and Dunos were tasked by Monica Galetti to produce her smoked trout recipe served with celeriac remoulade.[3] Meanwhile, Scott faced the challenge of replicating Marcus Wareing's Crêpes Suzette.[3][1][5] The three chefs then produced their signature dishes, to be judged by Galetti, Wareing, and Gregg Wallace.[3][1][2] Based on the performances from both tests, the judges put Ahmed and Dunos through to the Quarter-Finals, thus eliminating Scott.[3][1][5][4]
The episode is somewhat overshadowed by its opening statement, which informed viewers that the programme had been modified to remove a fourth contestant.[3][1][5] Upon receiving requests for comment, a spokesperson for the show confirmed the competitor had been removed due to "unforeseen circumstances", though refused to elaborate further.[1][5] The original and follow-up statements led to rampant speculation from MasterChef fans on the contestant's identity and why they were essentially expunged from the show's records.[6][7][8][1][3][5] It is believed the fourth contestant would have prepared a Crêpes Suzette alongside Scott.[1][3][5] Screenshots from viewers also showed apparent sightings of this chef cooking their signature dish, leading to the conclusion they were most likely male.[1][5] However, others claimed that a trailer for the episode featured a woman with brown hair, who was mysteriously edited out in a later version.[6] It is unclear whether their elimination was directly linked to the "unforeseen circumstances".[1][5] Regardless, seeing as Wallace announced that either Dunos or Scott was to be eliminated, it is presumed the fourth contestant exited before Scott did.[6]
Since then, several theories circulated surrounding the fourth contestant's disappearance.[3][6][7] The first concerned the possibility they were disqualified for violent or other unacceptable conduct before the signature dishes were judged.[3][6][7][8] Some viewers noted an especially stressful kitchen environment for that episode, leading them to ponder whether the fourth chef instigated it.[5] Others speculated the chef performed exceptionally poorly to the point where they and/or their employer threatened legal action should they remain in the final edit.[7][6] Another theory concerned the chef's background and whether they had a serious criminal record unbeknownst to the BBC at the time of recording.[3] But perhaps the most prevalent rumour was that the contestant was an employee of the shipping company Stena Line.[8][6] Allegedly, they had cooked a signature dish that was a protected Stena Line recipe.[8][6] As a result, the chef violated the organisation's non-disclosure agreement, additionally forcing the BBC to edit all footage of the contestant out on legal grounds.[8][6]
With the rumour mill in full swing, entertainment news site Deadline contacted a MasterChef spokeswoman requesting further details.[9] The spokeswoman responded that it was a private matter, which Deadline revealed actually concerned health matters.[9] Little else was discussed, making it unclear whether the expungement was done as a mark of respect for an ailing contestant, or because of COVID-19-related issues.[9][3] Notably, Series 13 was produced just after the first UK national lockdown was lifted, which mandated the show be filmed exclusively within 3 Mills Studios and conform to strict COVID-19 filming regulations.[10][11] Because of this, some allegations floated that the contestant's removal was down to COVID-19 protocol violations, including the failure to conduct a COVID-19 test.[3] Naturally, these rumours have not been confirmed nor denied by the BBC or MasterChef's producers, with its spokespeople refusing to expand upon their initial comments.[9][1][5]
Availability
Series 13 Episode 7 of MasterChef: The Professionals can be fully watched on BBC iPlayer. Only a few cameos of the fourth contestant are believed to dwell within the final cut, all during the cooking of the signature dishes.[1][5] Because of the extent the BBC went towards removing the chef from the show, it is extremely likely the noted health concerns were of an especially serious nature.[9][1][5] Thus, there is little chance of any additional relevant media leaking to the public, with the chef having also made no comments following the episode's airing.
See Also
- Countdown (lost unaired episodes of British game show; 1991-2022)
- Fifteen-to-One (lost unaired segments and episode from Channel 4 game show; 2000)
- Hell's Kitchen (partially found footage of unidentified contestants from Fox cooking show; 2007-2014)
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Daily Mail reporting on the mysterious edited out fourth contestant, removed due to "unforeseen circumstances". Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Manchester Evening News previewing MasterChef: The Professionals: Series 13. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Ariadne Reviews recapping the episode and listing the main circulated theories surrounding the BBC editing out the fourth contestant. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Reality Titbit summarising all 2020 competitors with the obvious exception of the fourth contestant. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Yorkshire Post reporting on the edited out fourth contestant and theories that circulated around possible improper conduct. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 r/Masterchef discussing the possible reasons behind the editing out of the furth contestant, including the Stena Line allegation. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 r/CasualUK discussing the removal of the fourth contestant and a few theories surrounding their disappearance. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 The Dibb discussing the missing fourth contestant and the Stena Line allegation. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Deadline reporting that the fourth contestant was removed from the programme because of health matters. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ Deadline reporting on Series 13 being filmed in the midst of strict COVID-19 filming protocols. Retrieved 12th Nov '23
- ↑ Institute for Government providing the timeline of UK COVID-19 lockdowns from March 2020 to March 2021. Retrieved 12th Nov '23