First semi-finalist eliminated on Celebrity MasterChef

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: September 9 2021 | 00:42

Last updated: September 9 2021 | 17:30

First semi-finalist eliminated on Celebrity MasterChef

The first contestant is eliminated from the semi-finals of this year's Celebrity MasterChef.

Su Pollard has become the first contestant to be booted from this year's Celebrity MasterChef at the semi-final stage.

In tonight's episode, the top eight contestants were given a challenge that required them to present a meal within a sandwich that hit the brief of being simultaneously hot, cold, crunchy, soft, sweet and sour.

Former EastEnders star Joe Swash impressed with his fish, chips, peas and scraps in focaccia, as did Love Island's Kem Cetinay with his focaccia-based sandwich containing lamb koftas, sweet red peppers and deep fried gherkins with sumac and garlic mayo.

Megan McKenna also earned praise from the judges after serving up chilli cheese fries, maple syrup bacon and jalapenos inside a gluten-free tiger bloom, but Pollard's contribution caused more confusion than delight.

The camp icon overstuffed her sandwich with a variety of ingredients, including ham hock, fried tomatoes, cheddar cheese, apricot puree, fried egg, potato crisps, kimchee, broccoli, celery and mayonnaise.

"I like the ham and fried egg, of course I do - that's ham and egg," Gregg Wallace told her. "What I can't get is the broccoli to match with anything. The broccoli is the bit that's spoiling it."

John Torode agreed, adding: "The broccoli has been boiled, so you get a flush of water which is washing away all the lovely flavours of the fried egg, the mayonnaise and the cheese.

"Celery as a crunch in a sandwich? It's the fact that you've got big hunks of celery in there that's the problem."

After deliberating, the judges decided to send Pollard home. "I've had a fantastic time," she said. "Everyone has been brilliant and I shall remember this for years to come. And it shall go on my CV, dear - MasterChef semi-finalist!"

Celebrity MasterChef continues Thursday at 8pm on BBC One.