MasterChef 2025 premiere overnight ratings confirm drop in viewers compared to last year

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As a passionate film enthusiast, I must say that it’s quite disappointing to notice a significant drop in the viewership of MasterChef since its comeback on BBC One. This decline can be attributed to the recent independent probe that resulted in the departure of the show’s beloved presenters from future seasons.

Last month, Gregg Wallace and John Torode departed the show following substantiated claims of unprofessional behavior.

This year’s amateur run will air on BBC, following discussions with the participants, even though it shares the same season as another show.

The decision faced backlash, as one competitor was removed from the program following her request to the producers that the show not be broadcasted.

The television season kicked off last night, August 6th, on BBC One. As is customary, the initial three episodes were simultaneously made available on iPlayer at 6 am.

Based on recent reports from BBC News (overnight statistics), the initial broadcast attracted approximately 1.96 million viewers, which is significantly lower than the 2.73 million viewers from the same time last year.

The BBC stated that they have no intention of collaborating with Wallace, as a comprehensive investigation validated 45 accusations leveled against him.

In a post made on social media recently, the presenter stated that following an exhaustive and meticulous six-month examination, it was determined that many of the most harmful accusations (even those from notable figures whose credibility has since been questioned) were unfounded.

I acknowledge that on certain occasions, my humor and choice of words may have been inappropriate. I sincerely apologize for any offense caused. However, it is important to clarify that I am not the distorted image portrayed for sensationalism.

It was later verified that Torode was removed from the show following substantiation of a claim that he employed racist language in the work environment. However, he claimed to have no memory of the alleged event.

Torode’s post on Instagram indicated that the investigation failed to specify the exact date or year during which he was supposed to have made a mistake.

I had expected to be involved in deciding how to leave the series I’ve been part of since its revival in 2005, but recent developments suggest that may not happen.

According to the BBC, the choice to broadcast the most recent amateur competition was made following thorough thought and discussions with the participants.

MasterChef represents a remarkable contest that significantly transforms the lives of its participating amateur chefs. The core emphasis lies on showcasing their culinary abilities and chronicling their unique journeys.” (BBC statement)

The decision wasn’t an easy one given the circumstances, and we understand that not everyone may share our perspective. By airing the series, which was produced last year, we don’t intend to downplay the gravity of the charges upheld against the presenters.

Although it wasn’t a simple choice considering the situation, we acknowledge not everyone might concur with it. Displaying the series, which was filmed in 2021, doesn’t imply that we undervalue the significance of the confirmed allegations against the hosts.

At the BBC, we’ve consistently emphasized the conduct we anticipate from our employees and program creators.

In our opinion, airing this series is a just action considering the effort these chefs have put into the project. We aim to ensure they receive proper acknowledgement, and provide viewers with the opportunity to enjoy the series.

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2025-08-07 18:41