If there’s one challenge a MasterChef contestant probably doesn’t want to do, it’s the team relay. So, you can imagine how thrilled everyone was on Tuesday night when it was revealed that this was exactly what they were going to do!
But the horrors of the challenge would all be worth it, because the winners have the chance to fight for an immunity pin tomorrow night. At least they’re not being sent home!
Fans will recall that last year Jamie Fleming made quite the mess of his relay challenge by deciding to do a Lancashire hotpot… a dish that none of his team members recognised (as you can see below).
Jamie Fleming reveals ‘scariest’ MasterChef challenge
Speaking to WHO, Jamie said the day wasn’t so much scary as it was “chaos” and “hilarious”.
“Well as someone who helped the Lancashire hotpot be the dish of last winter, I would say my secret of having an outline of a dish to pass on really didn’t work,” he said jokingly.
“I asked the person after me whether they had heard of a dish, and in the rush, they said ‘yes'”, he continues. “They didnt know, and then chaos ensued. Turns out none of my team knew!”
He adds, “Although that day was difficult, I probably laughed more than I ever have in that kitchen. It was hilarious.”
Funnily enough, that episode of MasterChef led to a major spike in Google searches for Lancashire hotpot, so it seems his teammates weren’t the only ones who didn’t know what it was! (If you were wondering, it’s a traditional, hearty British stew consisting of lamb and onions in gravy, topped with layers of sliced potatoes.)
“All of a sudden, everyone from Fallow [a London-based restaurant] to Taste was on the train,” he said with a laugh. “Glad I had an effect!”
Reflecting further on his experience in the relay challenge, Jamie said despire the outcome, he wouldn’t change it.
“The surprise was how much fun it was,” he shares. “Even though we failed, it was spectacular and to be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
In Jamie’s opinion, the most difficult challenges were the ones that were “super open… with little brief”.
“Nothing scarier than a blank page,” he said. “Barriers force creativity, so the big, broad challenges always kind of annoyed me. It meant everyone could just force a dish they’ve cooked 1000 times into the challenge, which isn’t really why I was there.”
MasterChef contestants face off in relay challenge
This year, contestants were split into four teams of four people, with everyone keen to get the chance to cook for immunity on Wednesday night.
Each contestant was given 20 minutes to do their part of the dish, with 30 seconds to hand over to the next chef.
The first four contestants were informed that their dish had to include Farmer’s Union Greek-Style Yoghurt, but only one team was able to create a dish that felt as though just one person had cooked it, and that was the purple team, made up of Jack, Hannah, Vinnie and Casper, who made a herb-crusted lamb rack, with hasselback potatoes, honey and cumin-glazed carrots and a yoghurt and black garlic sauce.
The four cooks will now be competing for an immunity pin on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately, the green team, made up of Dot, Jackie, Aaron and Grace, were close to having a great dish, but miscommunication early on about their pastry meant they missed the mark this time.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
