Yahoo News MasterChef: The Professionals hopeful eliminated after sauce disaster
Chef Gaston spilled his sauce all over the floor
What did you miss?
MasterChef: The Professionals hopeful Gaston was eliminated after a disaster which saw him spilling his dish on the floor.
The chef said he had "zero regrets" as he was told his time in the BBC show's kitchen was over. He had almost made it to the end of the cooking competition, which is continuing to air despite the investigation following allegations that host Gregg Wallace made inappropriate comments to contestants and staff. His lawyers denied the claims.
But things went wrong as Finals Week got under way on Monday, 9 December and he was sent home.
What, how and why?
In the episode, final four Gaston, Dan, George and Chiara were tasked with creating a meal for some culinary experts then whipping up a special dish that they were told they should try to make "perfect".
Gaston chose to make a poached scallop mousse on a bed of braised leeks. But as he was rushing to get it done before the time ran out, he knocked the pan containing his sauce off the stove.
Clapping his hands to his face as it spilled across the floor, he admitted he felt "extremely disappointed". "Oh Gaston!" exclaimed judge Marcus Wareing. "Is that all your sauce?" the star asked, as the cook said it was and groaned.
Gaston then served up his meal anyway, telling the judges he had been "clumsy". Sampling it, judge Monica Galetti said: "I think the sauce would really bring everything together but you know that."
The judges also felt that the chef's meal had a "grainy" texture.
Leaving the competition, Gaston, 29, said: "I will be forever grateful. It was the best adventure in my life."
"I have zero regrets," he added.
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MasterChef: The Professionals eliminates cook ahead of Finals Week
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Many fans weighed in on X, saying it was a shame to see Gaston go. One wrote: "No. Not Gaston. I am furious." "GUTTED. We’re both actually teary," said someone else.
"Sad for Gaston," one said. "It wasn't his day, but surely a very bright future awaits him."
Another viewer posted: "So sorry for Gaston."
What happened with Gregg Wallace?
An investigation is taking place into historic allegations of inappropriate behaviour by host and judge Wallace.
The star is alleged to have made inappropriate comments over 17 years of filming TV shows. His lawyers have said it “is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature".
MasterChef: The Professionals is staying on air but the BBC has defended the decision by explaining that the contest can be "life-changing" for the chefs taking part.
A BBC spokesperson said: "As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned. The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them."
MasterChef: The Professionals continues at 8pm on BBC One on Tuesday, 10 December.
