John Torode could barely contain his exasperation during the opening episode of this year’s Celebrity MasterChef finals week when Craig Doyle struggled to keep on top of his timings.
As Gregg Wallace and Torode gear up to select their final three, the latter part of Tuesday’s episode saw Doyle, Vito Coppola, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Rochenda Sandall have to cook “a luxury four-course lunch on a train”.
Ian ‘H’ Watkins departed earlier in the episode and the four remaining finalists faced their “toughest challenge yet” according to Wallace when they gathered at Battersea train depot in South London.
For the challenge, each celeb was responsible for a course to dish up to 20 guests onboard the iconic British Pullman.
Coppola was tasked with the starter – a heritage tomato tarte tatin with tomato compote and basil mayonnaise – while Aikines-Aryeetey was in charge of the fish course, pan-fried halibut with saffron risotto and dill oil.
Meanwhile, Sandall had to serve up a lamb dish with fondant potatoes, red wine sauce, and steamed cabbage parcel, while Doyle was tasked with the dessert – a chocolate sponge topped with ganache and decorated with pink peppercorn meringue shards, quenelle cream and raspberry coulis.
The four contestants had just two and a half hours to prep their dishes in the kitchen before having to finish them off while on the train to serve up to diners.
“The issue here is timing,” Wallace said from the get-go. “And they’re going to have to work really fast here at the depot because the train has to leave at a certain time.”
Turning his attention to Doyle, specifically, Wallace added: “This is a proper test for Craig because these are technically challenging processes, and I really hope the occasion doesn’t get the better of him.
“The timing on his meringues… if there’s a problem with it, those meringues are staying here!”
Doyle then revealed to the cameras: “We have to be on the train at 9am and my meringue is due to come out at 9am… I’m gonna tell you a secret – it’s due to come out at 9:10am!”
Timings became an issue for everyone in the kitchen, with Wallace accosting Sandall about her time-keeping, Coppola underestimating the amount of time needed to prep his tomatoes, and Aikines-Aryeetey struggling with the filleting of his halibut.
The pressure appeared to have the opposite effect on Doyle though as he admitted that his lack of ability in the dessert-making sector made him calmer as he had to think harder to follow the steps.
As the clock ticked down into the final half an hour, Torode entered the kitchen to see how they were getting on – and felt the wrath of Sandall when he questioned: “What have you been doing all morning?!”
When it came to Doyle’s final preparations, his sponge and coulis were completed in good time but the This Morning host remained worried about the meringue.
“You haven’t got very long,” Torode remarked as he approached Doyle with a few minutes left, prompting the presenter to reply: “No. My concern is the meringue…
“It’s going to be ready as the train leaves,” Doyle confessed.
Doyle rubbed his chin as he awaited some words of support from Torode but instead, he was met with the coldest of shoulders as the MasterChef judge turned without saying a word and briskly walked away.
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“Other than that though…” Doyle yelled after Torode before he quipped: “Can you organise some leaves on the line, John, please?”
In the end, Doyle and his co-stars had to pack up what they had and board the train – finished or not.
Luckily for Doyle, Coppola, Aikines-Aryeetey and Sandall, all of their dishes made it out to diners without a hiccup and each one was on the receiving end of glowing feedback from the train’s passengers.
As the quartet disembarked the train at the end of the day, they received a standing ovation from the diners.
However, one of the four will soon have to leave the competition as Wallace and Torode prepare to put the final three through the wringer one last time.
