The latest installment of Celebrity MasterChef failed to win over its audience on Tuesday evening.

Disappointed viewers expressed their discontent on social media, admitting they switched off due to the perceived lack of excitement in the episode.

Competing against each other were radio host Noreen Khan, Gladiators icon Jodie Ounsley, rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, singer Alfie Boe, and Ashley Cain, who faced off in a trio of cooking challenges.

Comments flooded into X with viewers noting, “The term ‘Celebrity’ is doing all the heavy lifting here,” alongside remarks like, “This taste test is dragging on; it’s a bit dull. Let’s move on,” and “Tonight’s episode is painfully boring.”

Others criticized the show with comments such as, “What’s the point of this food tasting segment when all five contestants can barely boil broccoli, yet receive praise for it? This used to be a great show #celebritymasterchef. I do enjoy Grace Dent, though it’s unfortunate she’s judging so-called ‘celebrities’ who scarcely fit the label!”

‘What a hard watch tonight, boring as f**k’ and ‘What’s the actual point of this food tasting segment when all five of them can just about boil broccoli and get praise for it.. used to be such a good show #celebritymasterchef. Love Grace Dent though.. shame she’s judging a bunch of ‘celebrities’ who really aren’t a bunch of!’

The new series of Celebrity MasterChef left viewers unimpressed on Tuesday night (pictured judge Grace Dent) 

Bored viewers took to social media to reveal they had ended up switching off, feeling the episode was uneventful

The first trial featured a mystery food under a cloche, with the celebrities then heading into the MasterChef larder to pick out the rest of their ingredients. 

After a good start – bar Noreen swiftly picking up her cake up off the floor – the second round tested the five celebrities palette.

The stars had to correctly guess what the ingredient is while blindfolded. 

Alun Wyn received ten minutes extra cooking time in the next challenge after guessing the most ingredients correctly. 

The celebrities then had to battle it out at the MasterChef Street Market, with judges John Torode and Grace Dent asking the stars to create something they would serve from their own food truck. 

He told them: ‘Make it indulgent, make it delicious, let’s cook’. 

The duo were impressed by Alfie’s smashed potatoes and Jodie’s sweet spin on a Yorkshire pudding. 

All five celebrities went sent through to the next round where they will battle it out once again. 

Radio DJ Noreen Khan, Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley, rugby player Alun Wyn Jones, (pictured) singer Alfie Boe and Ashley Cain went head to head in three challenges

The celebrities had to battle it out at the MasterChef Street Market, with judges John Torode and Grace Dent asking the stars to create something they would serve from their food truck

Viewers took to X and wrote: ‘The word ‘Celebrity’ doing a lot of heavy lifting today’; ‘They’re dragging this taste test out. It’s a bit boring. Just get on with it’; 

New judge Grace Dent received a good reception from viewers when the new series kicked off last month.

While Grace, 52, has often appeared on the show as a guest judge, this is her first series as a permanent fixture after Gregg Wallace was sacked earlier this year. 

Viewers penned: ‘Grace is lovely a bit of humour and humility. She is good for the #celebritymasterchef better than Greggs!’;

‘I am really loving Grace dent as a judge.’; ‘Loving this new series with slightly different format. Grace Dent is also a great addition’;

‘Thankfully no Greg yelling at the chefs to hurry up. Grace seems to have a calming effect.’;

‘I’m surprisingly loving Grace as a Judge but I’m going to miss John’; ‘Grace is finding it hard to control her facial expressions, which I find hilarious!’;

‘I didn’t like Grace Dent when she was an occasional guest judge in previous series, but now she’s a full time judge and I’ve grown to like her. She has an imperious look but is funny and rather kind.’

New judge Grace Dent received a good reception from viewers when the new series kicked off last month 

In July, John was given the boot after being accused of using a racist slur just months after Gregg was sacked after more than 40 complaints about his conduct were upheld

Grace will take over the reigns full time when she joins Anna Haugh, 44, to present the 2026 series and admitted it was time to rescue the cookery competition from the ‘male energy’

It comes after viewers were left bemused to see John still presenting the show when it returned, months after being axed by the BBC.   

In July John was given the boot after being accused of using a racist slur just months after Gregg was sacked after more than 40 complaints about his conduct were upheld, including inappropriate sexual language and unwelcome physical contact.

Yet before John’s exit he filmed the Celebrity series alongside new addition Grace with the BBC revealing that while it had not been a ‘straightforward decision’ to air the series, every celebrity contestant and guest featured had given their blessing.