The BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef brings famous faces into the kitchen, where they are challenged to cook dishes worthy of impressing some of Britain’s most respected food experts.
However, Thursday night’s episode sparked a wave of reaction online, with many viewers heading to Twitter to say they struggled to identify the latest batch of celebrity contestants.
The instalment ended with BBC Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo leaving the competition after her jambalaya failed to win over the judges, followed by a dessert of peaches and crushed biscuits that also missed the mark.
Underwhelmed: Celebrity MasterChef viewers flooded Twitter claiming they did not recognise several contestants on Thursday’s episode (pictured L-R: AJ Pritchard, Stella Parton, Jay Blades, Clara Amfo and Lisa Maxwell)
This week’s Celebrity MasterChef line-up included Strictly Come Dancing professional AJ Pritchard, 23, BBC Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo, 34, former EastEnders actress Lisa Maxwell, 54, furniture restorer and designer Jay Blades, 48, and Stella Parton, 68, the younger sister of country music icon Dolly Parton.
But not everyone was sold on the casting, with one unimpressed fan posting: ‘#celebritymasterchef Obviously not enough celebrities to go round all these celebrity programs.’
Another viewer echoed the criticism, writing: ‘Just switched on #CelebrityMasterchef but I can’t tell who the celebrities are…… not a good start? #zlist #wannabe anyone else got a clue? @BBCOne.’
Sent home: Clara Amfo was eliminated after presenting a lacklustre jambalaya and a poorly received peaches and crushed biscuits dessert.
A third added: ‘Has the #bbc run out of celebrities ? .. I don’t know over half of the #Strictlycomedancing contestants and just now on #MasterChef … I only knew one person … and even then, only very slightly. Com’on #Beeb – real celebrities or don’t bother ! #bbcpov.’
‘So I genuinely don’t think I know any of the #CelebrityMasterchef contestants. Not one. #officiallyold’, they continued.
‘They’re really scraping the barrel for celebs on ‘Celebrity’ Masterchef. 90% of them wouldn’t so much as raise an eyebrow on the ordinary one #whoevenisthat #CelebrityMasterchef.’
‘Z-list’: Fans were unimpressed with the line-up, with one tweeting: ‘#celebritymasterchef Obviously not enough celebrities to go round all these celebrity programs’
Despite the comments, the contestants boast successful careers within the industry, with BBC Radio 1’s Clara frequently interviewing music’s hottest celebrities on the network’s mid-morning show.
Professional dancer AJ rose to fame during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, which saw the Stoke-on-Trent native finish in fourth place with gymnast Claudia Fragapane.
Lisa was catapulted into the spotlight as Detective Inspector Samantha Nixon in the The Bill between 2002 and 2009, and has since appeared on EastEnders and Hollyoaks.
Successful: BBC Radio 1’s Clara, 34, frequently interviewing music’s hottest celebrities on the network’s mid-morning show (pictured with Janet Jackson)
Fancy footwork: Dancer AJ, 23, rose to fame during his Strictly Come Dancing stint in 2016, which saw the Stoke-on-Trent native finish in fourth place with Claudia Fragapane
Soap star: Lisa was catapulted into the spotlight as Detective Inspector Samantha Nixon in the The Bill between 2002 and 2009, and has since appeared on EastEnders and Hollyoaks
A good eye: Location, Location, Location star Jay is known for his work in interior designing, and is a regular Gok’s Fill Your House For Free
Star in her own right: With a career spanning over four decades, Stella is most recognised for her hit I Want to Hold You In My Dreams Tonight (pictured with sister Dolly in April 2014)
Location, Location, Location star Jay is known for his work in interior designing, and is a regular Gok’s Fill Your House For Free.
With a career spanning over four decades, Dolly’s younger sister Stella is most recognised for her hits I Want to Hold You In My Dreams Tonight and The Danger of a Stranger.
TOWIE’s Gemma Collins, Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu and new father Spencer Matthews have also featured on this year’s edition.
Celebrity MasterChef continues on Friday at 8.30pm on BBC1.
