'Real dumb': MasterChef's social distancing rules panned

MasterChef started to look very different for viewers on Monday night as the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing rules started to apply to the series.

But while things like group hugs and high fives were off the table, and contestants were spaced out to compete, fans have panned the measures as pointless given the cooks all live together in the same house during filming.

Judge Jock explained the changes being made to the show at the start of the episode saying it was “a brand new week and a whole new world”.

“A lot has changed in recent days due to the coronavirus,” he told contestants. “None of us have ever experienced anything like this before. But we are all in this together.

“Therefore, there's a few rules that I wanna speak to you about. In and out of this kitchen. So we're gonna do things a little bit differently from now on in here.”

MasterChef viewers point out social distancing fail

But viewers were quick to take to social media to point out the fact the cast all live together, saying the social distancing rules on the show were ‘pointless’ and ‘unnecessary’.

“What I find interesting is that they are like a large family .... all live together ... and I eat from my hubbies or grandkids plates lol - hence I don’t see why any distancing is needed at all while in the house,” one person wrote on Facebook.

“They all live in the same house during production I believe,” another said.

“Why were they doing social distancing and then all walked out in a huddle at the end?” a third asked.

While one person wrote: “Social distancing in the MasterChef kitchen when they were in the house and safe before it became a pandemic. Kinda seems real dumb.”

A spokesperson for MasterChef’s production company Endemol Shine Australia had also told The Daily Telegraph gloves would be “provided for team challenges where equipment may be shared”.

“Additional sinks have been added as dedicated hand washing stations. Judges step up to taste individually portioned meals and no cutlery or plates are shared,” the statement said.

MasterChef medic spotted not wearing gloves

But another incident also caught the attention of viewers when a member of the show’s first aid staff appeared on screen wearing no gloves.

Poh Ling Yeow badly cut her finger early during the same episode, saying she’d “lost a small chunk” of her pinkie and was treated by an on-set nurse, who was not wearing gloves or a mask.

“Hey you guys need a new nurse, where were her gloves???” one person Tweeted.

“Nice gloves nurse,” another said. While a third added: “That's what I thought! Glove up nurse!”

Why MasterChef's Melissa Leong missed episode

MasterChef judge Melissa Leong also missed the landmark episode and explained why in a post on Instagram.

“Melissa couldn’t be with us tonight but she’ll be back on deck soon,” was all fellow judge Jock would say of his colleague’s absence during the episode.

The judge revealed it was a health scare that kept her away from set, as several symptoms saw her tested for the dangerous illness but given the all-clear.

“For those of you wondering where I am in this landmark episode, I had sinusitis and took myself to the GP in order to do the safe, thorough and responsible thing in such uncertain times,” the judge wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.

“I was cleared and returned to set the next day.⁣⁣”

Before the season officially kicked off on our TV screens Poh had revealed that production on MasterChef was continuing despite the global coronavirus pandemic becoming more serious.

Poh told hit105’s Stav, Abby and Matt back in April that they were “halfway through filming” and it was all “going ahead following all the government regulations for the virus”.

She said the cast and crew are in a ‘privileged position’ due to the fact that, unlike many other reality TV shows, they don’t film in front of a live audience and so are ‘pushing ahead’.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.