The latest series of MasterChef has debuted on the BBC with new judges Anna Haugh and Grace Dent, but viewers are already split over their on-screen expressions.
Series 22 sees celebrated chef Anna Haugh and restaurant critic Grace Dent take over from Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The pair will test 48 amateur cooks with a series of challenges.
The first heat aired on Tuesday (April 21) with six contestants: Rosdip, 33; Brendan, 57; Jhané, 29; Sabina, 49; Samantha, 39; and Matt, 41. Moments into the episode, viewers took to social media to voice their opinions.
Some fans criticised the judges' facial expressions. One wrote on X: 'I'm assuming it must be in the contract that judges/presenters on MasterChef must express shocked/surprised faces at every opportunity possible! Gregg and John did it for years and it looks like it's continuing!' Another added: 'Someone tell Anna that she doesn't have to replicate Gregg's surprised face every time a contestant tells her what they are going to be cooking.'
However, other viewers were delighted with the new duo. One wrote: 'Loving the two ladies, Grace and Anna running the MasterChef kitchen.' Another said: 'Love Anna and Grace in this series.'
During the episode, the Signature Dish round saw Rosdip and Jhané earn aprons immediately, while the remaining four competed in the Classic Recipe Test. Last year's final three—champion Harry Maguire and finalists Claire Syrenne and Sophie Sugrue—sampled dishes before the quarter-finalists were revealed.
