MasterChef has been heavily criticized for its ‘disgraceful’ editing of Gregg Wallace in its latest episode, with viewers questioning: ‘Is this for real?’

Gregg and co-host John Torode were dismissed after nearly two decades on the show by the BBC last month following an investigation that confirmed allegations of their inappropriate conduct.

Wallace had 40 complaints confirmed, including an incident where he was accused of walking around the set naked with a sock on his genitals. Torode was found to have used a racist term in 2018.

Their last season of MasterChef was recorded before their dismissal. The show’s bosses have opted to keep them in the final edit – but only if their screen time was reduced and their banter and jokes were minimized.

Several contestants asked to be edited out themselves to avoid being on screen with them. 

Today, the Daily Mail reports that viewers have noted ‘disgraceful’ edits in the new series on BBC One and iPlayer, with many cuts appearing awkward and repetitive, particularly those involving Mr. Wallace.

In a scene aired last night, stills of Gregg making the same expression three times in about a minute were broadcast, with many suggesting that the BBC and production company Banijay repeatedly used the same footage of the disgraced host throughout the show.

Some of his fans have even claimed the edits, where Gregg gives a semi-gurning smile, were deliberately to embarrass him and ‘make him look demented’.

TikTok user Gingernat Design shared a particularly unusual example, writing: ‘Clever editing from MasterChef.

‘Whether this is to do with the allegations or not I don’t know, but it’s jokes how they just froze Gregg Wallace for an entire conversation.’

The now-viral clip sees a contestant discuss her performance with Torode and Wallace.

The same shot of Wallace appears to be used three times in succession – and he is seen with a broad grin fixed on his face.

The uncanny scene has horrified fans, who rushed to social media to express their disapproval.

‘I saw this and it looked absolutely demented,’ wrote one user, while another added: ‘Is this for real?’

One incredulous viewer said: ‘Have they had Gregg killed and stuffed and he just permanently placed like that throughout? Would certainly solve a lot of problems.’

And one wrote: ‘Weren’t they supposed to remove the creepy bits…?’

But other fans were confused at Torode and Wallace’s presence in the programme.

One wrote: ‘I thought they would be in the show much less – i.e. hardly at all, no cutaways, unless they were talking. It seems like the programme has hardly been edited…’

A former production expert offered some insight as to why the episode looked as it did.

‘I work in post production in UK TV (not for the BBC or on Masterchef though), and based on the turnaround time, it was probably the quickest fix they could do, ‘ he said.

‘Just reuse the previous shot to cover up any cut content. The Hosts certainly wouldn’t be able to be completely edited out, however, unless they reshot all their bits with new hosts and spliced them in, but that wouldn’t really ever happen due to money.’

And others pointed out the unfortunate selection of the clip that appeared to be repeated, with one writing: ‘I’m crying and they picked a clip where he looks SO dodgy. Not helpful at all considering the recent allegations.’

It comes as yet another MasterChef contestant has been edited out of the scandal-ridden cooking series.

Sarah Shafi and another contestant who wanted to remain anonymous said they did not want to appear in the series given ‘recent events’.

Sarah previously said she felt ‘pressured’ to accept show bosses’ offer to cut her from the final edits completely. 

At the end of last year, Wallace was accused of making sexualised jokes and other inappropriate remarks towards a range of women, with claims dating back as far as 19 years. 

Since then, more than 50 people have approached the BBC with fresh claims about the presenter – including allegations he groped a MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another.

Wallace denies the claims, but was sacked by BBC bosses in November last year.

The upheld complaint against Torode related to his allegedly using an extremely offensive racist term on the set of MasterChef in 2018.

MasterChef is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.