However, it wasn’t his cooking that stole the limelight among viewers.

Audiences were left in stitches when the towering 6-foot-10 athlete was seen standing next to 5-foot-8 judge Gregg Wallace, creating a comical visual moment during the show’s premiere.

The camera angle playfully highlighted the striking 1-foot-2-inch height difference between them, adding an unexpected layer of humor.

The ‘unfortunate’ camera angle exaggerated the 1ft 2in height difference between the men with comic effect. 

Celebrity Masterchef viewers were left in hysterics when 6ft 10in ex-England rugby player Martin Bayfield was captured towering over 5ft 8in judge Gregg Wallace in a hilarious shot (pictured) from the series premiere last night. The camera angle exaggerated the difference

Witty Twitter users quickly compared the men to characters from The Hobbit, while another said it looked like a Year Seven pupil was trying to befriend a sixth former at school 

The hilarious moment was seized upon by Twitter users, who said it looked like Wallace, 53, was a Year Seven trying to befriend a sixth former on the first day of school. 

Another tweeted: ‘Having climbed the beanstalk, Jack found himself in a kitchen belonging to a giant!’ 

Wallace, who presents the BBC show with long-time co-host John Torode, 53, saw the funny side, re-tweeting a comment jokingly comparing him to a Hobbit from the Lord of the Rings.

Bayfield’s impressive stature was also not lost on Wallace during the filming of last night’s episode. As he approached the bench, he noted: ‘For a big guy you look a little nervous’

Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Britain (bottom tweet) provided inspiration for viewers poking fun at the striking height difference but others said it was partly a trick of the camera

Bayfield’s impressive stature was also not lost on Wallace during the filming of last night’s episode. 

As he approached the contestant’s bench to ask about his first recipe, Wallace commented: ‘For a big guy you look a little nervous.’

A number of playful comments about Bayfield’s height followed throughout the show. 

Viewers were delighted by the striking height difference on camera. 

One tweeted: ‘Gregg has shrunk in the wash.’ Another joked that he thought Wallace must have been sitting down. 

Former sportsman Bayfield, 51, had to lean down to reach the ingredients as he whipped up his first dish on the show, pictured. He impressed the judges and is through to the next round

Wallace, who presents the BBC show with long-time co-host John Torode, 53, saw the funny side, re-tweeting a comment jokingly comparing him to a Hobbit from the Lord of the Rings

Last night marked the premiere of the 13th series of the reality cooking show.  

Bayfield, 51, faced off against actor Keith Allen, BBC presenter Michelle Ackerley, Union J singer Josh Cuthbert and T’Pau star Carol Decker in the first heat.

The former England and Rugby Union star, who played for Bedford Blues and Northampton Saints, impressed in the first round but struggled when the stars were sent to cook in a Michelin-star restaurant. 

Allen and Ackerley found themselves in the bottom two at the end of the three rounds. 

Wallace and Torode decided to send Ackerley home after they were underwhelmed by her fish pie, leaving the others to proceed to the next round.