TV presenter Michelle Ackerley has become the first contestant to leave the kitchen on Celebrity MasterChef 2018.
Crimewatch Roadshow presenter Ackerley, 33, was called out by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace for putting too much cheesy mash on top of her fish pie in the final challenge.
She also struggled to keep up as she prepared scallop starters in American-inspired steak restaurant Smith and Wollensky.
Following her exit Ackerley said: “I’m going out with a smile on my face. I’ve really enjoyed it, I’ve met some lovely people and I wish the rest of the guys the best of luck.”
Torode and Wallace also considered actor Keith Allen for elimination after he was frequently pulled up for his food presentation skills.
As Allen added sauce to a cod fillet during the professional restaurant task, he was told by the head chef: “Stop slopping it over the plate, it’s not school dinners is it?”
After Ackerley’s departure was announced, the Shallow Grave star admitted: “I think until Michelle’s potato was airlifted in it was ‘taxi cab for Mr Allen’.”
The father of singer Lily Allen saved his bacon by impressing the judges with the flavour combinations in a dish of his own invention – chicken casserole served on a bed of noodles with a cider apple sauce.
Also through to compete for a place in the semi-finals are T’pau singer Carol Decker, former England rugby player Martin Bayfield and Union J’s Josh Cuthbert.
Torode called Decker his favourite contestant after she chose to cook an untested two-course meal outside of her culinary comfort zone.
The Australian lavished praise on the China In Your Hand singer’s cod wrapped in Parma ham.
Bayfield was singled out by Wallace after he served up a wild garlic and pea soup with morel mushrooms followed by lamb and dauphinoise potatoes.
Wallace told the TV rugby pundit: “There is a cook in you, this is well-made food. I’m very impressed with you!”
Celebrity MasterChef continues on BBC One on Friday at 8.30pm.
