Celebrity MasterChef returned for its 21st series with a messy start as contestant Joe Pasquale injured himself during the first heat.
The BBC culinary competition features a new set of celebrities cooking under the watchful eyes of judges Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli. In the first heat, actor and author Joe Pasquale, presenter Jason Mohammad, Jay McGuinness from The Wanted, weightlifter Emily Campbell, and Love Island star Shakira Khan were tasked with creating a signature dish.
Joe's 'Frankenstein's pie' mishap
As Joe worked on what he called 'Frankenstein's pie', he cut his hand and was left bleeding from a painful-looking cut. When Grace and Giorgio visited his station, Grace spotted two plasters on his fingers and remarked, "You've got two injuries already!"
Joe joked that he was "living on the edge", telling the judges, "Don't worry, I'll be in plaster by the end of the week." Giorgio suggested the "chaos" on Joe's chopping board might have been a factor, but the celebrity quipped, "It's called Frankenstein's pie. You can't do it without blood."
As the judges moved on, the camera showed Joe's thumb bleeding from a fresh cut. "Can I have another plaster, please?" he called out, laughing that it was now a "Sweeney Todd pie".
Upcoming heats
The competition is divided into three celebrity heats, with four stars progressing each week. The semis take place in the fourth week, and the fifth week is Finals Week.
The next instalment will see Gladiators star Emily Steel, actress Donna Preston, former Royal Ballet dancer Eric Underwood, EastEnders' Nitin Ganatra, and YouTuber Tom Simons, aka TommyInnit, compete. In the third heat, Saturdays star Una Healy, Loose Women's Sue Cleaver, former I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! camper Melvin Odoom, comedian Max Fosh, and paralympic athlete Lauren Steadman will face the judges.
Celebrity MasterChef is airing on BBC One.
