Celebrity MasterChef aired its final semi-finals episode on Friday, with the five remaining famous faces revealed.
Sadly, one person had to go, and judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace decided it was time for Tamer Hassan to hang up his apron.
Speaking about the contestants’ progress, Wallace, 59, said of the actor: “I’ve been impressed with Tamer, he’s become a stronger cook throughout the rounds.”
“He can be bold and brash but he can also have elegance, full of style, but still robust and keeping his personality,” Torode added.
“Today, I’m going to mix it up a little bit,” Hassan explained before he shared the plan for his dish. He continued: “I thought, ‘let me try and show that I can do other things.'”
Speaking to the cameras about what it meant for him to have come so far in the competition, he reflected: “The MasterChef bug has bit me in the bottom, so badly.
“I’m kind of now at a point where [I’m thinking] ‘what am I going to do when it’s over?'”
The actor decided to cook the judges a salt-crusted sea bass for his dish. Commenting on this as he spoke to cameras, Torode explained: “Salt-baking fish has been around for centuries.
“The idea is you encase the fish in the salt mixture and then the fish cooks beautifully, holding all the moisture inside.”
While he managed to successfully cook the fish dish, Hassan’s time in the competition was soon up after the judges were left impressed by the whole group.
“You six are truly incredible, but this is a competition sadly – there are only five places in finals week, that does mean one of you is leaving,” Torode stated as he announced the judges’ decision.
He went on to reveal Hassan would be leaving the competition. After hugging his co-stars goodbye, Hussan admitted it was “bittersweet”.
“Going home today is bittersweet because I’ve had such a good time but I was an inch away from hitting the finals week, which is great, it’s brilliant, it’s amazing – what an achievement,” he beamed.
However, viewers weren’t impressed by Hassan’s departure from the series, with many admitting they were “shocked” by the move.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
BBC bosses delay plans to announce Strictly Come Dancing probe results: ‘Biggest nightmare’Steve McQueen’s son and Karate Kid star Chad McQueen dies aged 63 as tributes pour inSir Michael Palin predicts death will be ‘sometime soon’ as he shares he’s ‘bereft’ over late wife
Taking to X, one penned: “Shocked, I thought Tamer was a finalist for sure #celebritymasterchef.”
“#celebritymasterchef oh Tamer was robbed, Vito for the win now!!!!” another shared.
“#celebritymasterchef oh vito or Tamer to win!!!” another posted just before the actor’s elimination.
Another had commented: “My favourite 3. Vito, Craig and Tamer.”
Some did agree with Torode and Wallace though, with another viewer writing: “Unfortunately Tamar’s dish looks the saddest one there #CelebrityMasterchef.”
Making it through to the final five were Craig Doyle, Ian “H” Watkins, Rochenda Sandall, Vito Coppola and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
