Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas has become the latest contestant to be eliminated from Celebrity MasterChef, narrowly missing a place in Friday's grand final. The 50-year-old star was sent home during Monday's first episode of Finals Week, leaving four celebrities to battle for the title.
The Final Challenge That Sealed His Fate
The episode presented the five remaining contestants with a daunting two-part challenge. First, they had to impress world-leading pastry chef Cherish Finden by creating an afternoon tea based on her recipes. Finden set a stern tone, telling the celebrities: 'Good is not good enough. You are not the celebrities today. You are my chefs.' Jamie struggled during this task, accidentally splitting his yuzu curd while attempting a delicate lemon drizzle cake.
The pressure intensified in the showstopper round, where the stars were given two hours to create a dish with 'performance' and 'showbiz'. Judge John Torode urged them to 'pull out all the tricks'. Jamie embraced a pirate theme for his 'Treasure Island' creation, serving spiced tempura prawn popcorn in a treasure chest with 'sand' made from crushed nachos.
Judges' Verdict and the Remaining Finalists
Despite his creative effort, the dish failed to win over the critics. Judge Grace Dent said his gold prawns were 'delicious' but criticised the crushed nachos, saying he had 'lost the magic'. John Torode called it a 'fantastic idea' but found the accompanying tortilla breads too hard. Ultimately, the judges decided Jamie's journey ended there.
His departure means Dawn O'Porter, Alfie Boe, Alun Wyn Jones, and Ginger Johnson progress to Tuesday's episode. They will face the dreaded Chef's Table challenge before the final three are selected for Friday's climax. Dawn impressed with a six-course orange-themed menu, Alfie moved judges to tears with an operatic delivery, Alun Wyn brought humour with a Merlin-themed dish, and Ginger celebrated the show's 20th birthday with a boozy creation.
A Show in Crisis: Plummeting Ratings and Presenter Scandals
Jamie's exit comes as Celebrity MasterChef faces a significant ratings crisis. The Daily Mail reports the scandal-hit BBC spin-off has shed nearly a third of its audience in a year, now struggling to top 1.3 million viewers. The first episode of the current series on November 17 failed to make Barb's Top 50 programmes, a stark contrast to last year when it peaked at 2.6 million viewers.
The slump coincides with unprecedented turmoil behind the scenes. The show's longtime presenters, Gregg Wallace and John Torode, both departed this year amid controversy. Wallace left after an investigation into 45 upheld complaints about 'inappropriate' on-set behaviour. Torode later revealed he was the individual found to have used 'extremely offensive racist language' seven years ago, though he said he had 'absolutely no recollection' of the incident.
The BBC has since introduced an all-female line-up of Grace Dent and Anna Haugh for the amateur series, while Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli is set to join Dent for future celebrity editions. As the remaining four contestants prepare for the final hurdles, the show itself is fighting to regain its former prestige and viewership in a crowded primetime landscape.
