Celebrity Masterchef contestant and ex-England rugby player Martin Bayfield impressed the judges with his dishes on last night’s show.

But it wasn’t his culinary creations that had viewers talking. 

Viewers found it amusing when the 6ft 10in former athlete was seen towering over the 5ft 8in judge Gregg Wallace in a funny scene from the show’s debut episode.

The ‘unfortunate’ camera angle exaggerated the 1ft 2in height difference between the men with comic effect. 

Celebrity Masterchef watchers burst into laughter seeing 6ft 10in ex-England rugby player Martin Bayfield appearing much taller than the 5ft 8in judge Gregg Wallace in a comedic shot (pictured) during the series premiere. The angle of the camera highlighted their height difference.

Clever Twitter users quickly likened the men to figures from The Hobbit, while another humorously remarked that it resembled a Year Seven student trying to make friends with an older sixth form student at school.

The hilarious moment was seized upon by Twitter users, who said it looked like Wallace, 53, was a Year Seven trying to befriend a sixth former on the first day of school. 

Another tweeted: ‘Having climbed the beanstalk, Jack found himself in a kitchen belonging to a giant!’ 

Wallace, who presents the BBC show with long-time co-host John Torode, 53, saw the funny side, re-tweeting a comment jokingly comparing him to a Hobbit from the Lord of the Rings.

Bayfield’s impressive stature was also not lost on Wallace during the filming of last night’s episode. As he approached the bench, he noted: ‘For a big guy you look a little nervous’

Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Britain (bottom tweet) provided inspiration for viewers poking fun at the striking height difference but others said it was partly a trick of the camera

Bayfield’s impressive stature was also not lost on Wallace during the filming of last night’s episode. 

As he approached the contestant’s bench to ask about his first recipe, Wallace commented: ‘For a big guy you look a little nervous.’

A number of playful comments about Bayfield’s height followed throughout the show. 

Viewers were delighted by the striking height difference on camera. 

One tweeted: ‘Gregg has shrunk in the wash.’ Another joked that he thought Wallace must have been sitting down. 

Former sportsman Bayfield, 51, had to lean down to reach the ingredients as he whipped up his first dish on the show, pictured. He impressed the judges and is through to the next round

Wallace, who presents the BBC show with long-time co-host John Torode, 53, saw the funny side, re-tweeting a comment jokingly comparing him to a Hobbit from the Lord of the Rings

Last night marked the premiere of the 13th series of the reality cooking show.  

Bayfield, 51, faced off against actor Keith Allen, BBC presenter Michelle Ackerley, Union J singer Josh Cuthbert and T’Pau star Carol Decker in the first heat.

The former England and Rugby Union star, who played for Bedford Blues and Northampton Saints, impressed in the first round but struggled when the stars were sent to cook in a Michelin-star restaurant. 

Allen and Ackerley found themselves in the bottom two at the end of the three rounds. 

Wallace and Torode decided to send Ackerley home after they were underwhelmed by her fish pie, leaving the others to proceed to the next round.