][1]I realise that I should be burned at the stake for uttering such heresy but your blogger has been bored with MasterChef for a while now.
It’s not the idea of finding great cooks among the public. That basic concept is a great one which has already done twenty years service and will probably do twenty more.
What I can’t stand is the format and especially the constant repetition that treats the viewers like idiots who can’t remember what happened ten minutes ago, never mind the day before.
In a similar vein, the never-ending hype is insulting. Of course, it’s entertainment so the show has to generate tension but being told that ‘this is the toughest challenge yet’ every two minutes quickly becomes wearing.
The Mitchell and Webb skit about the spoof False Jeopardy programme parodied that hype neatly.
At least the producers seem to have cut down on the number of ‘journeys’ which the contestants are supposed to have been on. This cliche of the reality TV genre has hopefully reached the final stop on its own journey.
Moaning aside, Tim Anderson, last night’s winner, was a natural for TV and his cooking was mesmerising.
There were plenty of other talented cooks on the show. Last night’s other two finalists both produced meals which you would think yourself lucky to find in 90% of restaurants
But the American’s inventive, playful way with food was something else again. Give the man his own TV show. I don’t think I’d be the only viewer.