Gregg Wallace’s cringe-worthy ‘dumplings’ joke slipped past BBC censors in a Masterchef episode filmed in a Michelin-starred Cork restaurant. On Tuesday’s episode of the BBC show, the final three contestants were taken to a change of location to Cork’s Dede for the final week of the 2024 series. The presenter made an appearance in the final ten minutes to try their dishes.
Upon tasting one plate, viewers were left uncomfortable after he made the awkward joke: ‘You’ve got firm little dumplings in there.’ It follows myriad allegations of inappropriate behaviour and language by 13 people against Wallace, who is currently under investigation, across a range of shows over a 17-year period. Last week he announced he was stepping back from MasterChef after nearly 20 years.
The venue Dede in Cork is run by Turkish-born chef Ahmet Dede, who operates the two Michelin-star restaurant in the Customs House in Baltimore, offering a fusion of Turkish and Irish foods. The venue is one of only five two-star Michelin restaurants in Ireland, securing its first star in 2021 followed by the second two years later. Mr Dede said on social media he was pleased the restaurant would be hosting the renowned show for Tuesday night’s episode: ‘Thank you so much to all the crew of @masterChefUK.
What an incredible team.’ The luxurious 97-acre Inish Beg Estate in West Cork also hosted the final three contestants, where each was responsible for preparing two dishes from Dede’s tastin.
