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The popular BBC show Celebrity MasterChef pits well-known figures against one another in a culinary showdown, aiming to impress some of the UK’s most esteemed chefs.
However, during Thursday’s episode, many viewers took to Twitter to express their confusion, claiming they didn’t recognize the participating celebrities.
This particular episode saw BBC Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo exit the competition. Her culinary journey ended after she presented a lackluster jambalaya and an ill-received dessert made of peaches and crushed biscuits.
Not impressed: Viewers took to Twitter in their droves as they claimed they didn’t recognise the contestants on Thursday’s edition of Celebrity Masterchef (pictured L-R: AJ Pritchard, Stella Parton, Jay Blades, Clara Amfo and Lisa Maxwell)
This season’s lineup includes a diverse group of personalities: AJ Pritchard, a 23-year-old professional dancer from Strictly Come Dancing, Clara Amfo, the 34-year-old DJ, Lisa Maxwell, a 54-year-old former EastEnders actress, Jay Blades, a 48-year-old furniture designer, and Stella Parton, the 68-year-old sister of country music icon Dolly Parton.
Despite the variety, some fans were not impressed with the roster. One viewer tweeted, “#celebritymasterchef Clearly, there aren’t enough celebrities to fill all these celebrity shows.”
In agreement, another slammed: ‘Just switched on #CelebrityMasterchef but I can’t tell who the celebrities are…… not a good start? #zlist #wannabe anyone else got a clue? @BBCOne.’
Booted off: The episode saw DJ Clara Amfo be eliminated from the show after serving a disappointing jambalaya, paired with a disastrous peaches and crushed biscuits dish for dessert.
A third added: ‘Has the #bbc run out of celebrities ? .. I don’t know over half of the #Strictlycomedancing contestants and just now on #MasterChef … I only knew one person … and even then, only very slightly. Com’on #Beeb – real celebrities or don’t bother ! #bbcpov.’
‘So I genuinely don’t think I know any of the #CelebrityMasterchef contestants. Not one. #officiallyold’, they continued.
‘They’re really scraping the barrel for celebs on ‘Celebrity’ Masterchef. 90% of them wouldn’t so much as raise an eyebrow on the ordinary one #whoevenisthat #CelebrityMasterchef.’
‘Z-list’: Fans were unimpressed with the line-up, with one tweeting: ‘#celebritymasterchef Obviously not enough celebrities to go round all these celebrity programs’
Despite the comments, the contestants boast successful careers within the industry, with BBC Radio 1’s Clara frequently interviewing music’s hottest celebrities on the network’s mid-morning show.
Professional dancer AJ rose to fame during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, which saw the Stoke-on-Trent native finish in fourth place with gymnast Claudia Fragapane.
Lisa was catapulted into the spotlight as Detective Inspector Samantha Nixon in the The Bill between 2002 and 2009, and has since appeared on EastEnders and Hollyoaks.
Successful: BBC Radio 1’s Clara, 34, frequently interviewing music’s hottest celebrities on the network’s mid-morning show (pictured with Janet Jackson)
Fancy footwork: Dancer AJ, 23, rose to fame during his Strictly Come Dancing stint in 2016, which saw the Stoke-on-Trent native finish in fourth place with Claudia Fragapane
Soap star: Lisa was catapulted into the spotlight as Detective Inspector Samantha Nixon in the The Bill between 2002 and 2009, and has since appeared on EastEnders and Hollyoaks
A good eye: Location, Location, Location star Jay is known for his work in interior designing, and is a regular Gok’s Fill Your House For Free
Star in her own right: With a career spanning over four decades, Stella is most recognised for her hit I Want to Hold You In My Dreams Tonight (pictured with sister Dolly in April 2014)
Location, Location, Location star Jay is known for his work in interior designing, and is a regular Gok’s Fill Your House For Free.
With a career spanning over four decades, Dolly’s younger sister Stella is most recognised for her hits I Want to Hold You In My Dreams Tonight and The Danger of a Stranger.
TOWIE’s Gemma Collins, Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu and new father Spencer Matthews have also featured on this year’s edition.
Celebrity MasterChef continues on Friday at 8.30pm on BBC1.