To want masterchef to return to the good ol days

[MoanCraft]

When the food made was recognisable and easily reproducible

[mousmous]

yanbu
and I want some real challenges, like gluten/dairy/egg free, vegan, no salt...

[MoanCraft]

Mous what a damn good idea.

[MoanCraft]

I'm just fed up with the ponsey shit now. I think they need to go back to their root veg.

[mousmous]

and nutritionists picking the meals apart...

[HouseAtreides]

The old good old days... Loyd Grossman and colour coded kitchens! Seriously, I hate all the hard nosed, high pressure competitive formats. Cooking is supposed to be pleasurable, not put you at risk of a stress hernia or needing therapy.

[TrollshaveLittleWillies]

I like the competition aspect but I don't like the contrived drama. Ie ridiculous time constraints, drawn out eliminations, lingering shots of upset contestants and the loud music.

I want to see the cooking not all the other stuff.

[MoanCraft]

unrecognisable lemon posset is just going too far imo

[BigRedBall]

And the "samphire"...the fucking "samphire"...

[rebelfor]

I cannot abide the woman narrators voice.
Whhhyyy doeesss shheeee talllkkk soooo sllooooowwlllyy?

[wol1968]

I'd rather have food on my plate than some Jackson Pollock (no pun intended)-inspired beetroot-and-sour-cherry artwork that I am presumably meant to lick and then make up some faux-synaesthete BS about. Are you meant to eat this stuff or frame it and hang it on a wall?

[UncleT]

I'm more bothered about the fact that after about two programmes, everyone's suddenly in the final. It feels like they have about two proper rounds! What a load of old poop.

[snowglobemouse]

I miss Lloyd and the colour coded kitchens and the menus that came up on screen

[MoanCraft]

And there isn't enough food ffs

[LowryFan]

Last year I stopped watching due to rage over too many instances of 'pushing the envelope'. This year it's all 'deconstructed'. FFS we can all sprinkle shit on a plate.

[MoanCraft]

And I miss the word cogitated

[marshmallowpies]

This year it was nothing but edible bloody flowers. I'm sick of it. (I watch only because DH likes it). The celebrity one is even worse.

[LoxleyBarrett]

I love the food they produce in the last few rounds - I'd eat it every week if I could afford too; instead I have to resign myself to a twice yearly treat at a fantastic restaurant.

[SanityClause]

"We've deliberated, cogitated and digested......"

Come back, Lloyd, all is forgiven!

[Lyndie]

Agree. Why can't it be a competition at being the best amateur cook? Putting them in professional kitchens and ridiculous mass catering challenges and changing formats are not inspiring!!

[QueenofLouisiana]

I love Masterchef, but I agree- it's barely "amateur" chefs now. It used to be like looking at a really good Sunday lunch (with a nice glass of wine on the side).

Now, I look at the food and think I may need to order a takeaway after eating it! And can you imagine the response if you sullied their foam by washing it down with a decent Chablis??

[ZeroFunDame]

The thing I miss most from the LG days is the bringing an ingredient from home; a rabbit or fish they'd shot or caught themselves, preserves they'd been making as part of a family tradition, terrifying mushrooms ...

It's all so joyless now, and I never want to eat food that's been through fifteen processes before it reaches the plate.

[OinkBalloon]

YANBU. I never watch it any more. Used to love the old version, learned so much from it and the drama felt genuine.

Also agree with Mous's genuine challenges.

[ender]

YANBU. I can't bear to watch it now, too irritating. All the false drama, suspense music and close ups of the presenters gurning faces.
We only get glimpses of the food, I want to have a good look at the whole cooking process.

[Damnautocorrect]

Do you remember when Lloyd grossman used to do it and they'd have all the food on those tables whilst they did close ups and sweeps with the camera?

I'd always think 'it must be bloody cold' by the time they ate it.

[Mrchubster]

Yes I wish they'd focus more on the cooking itself so the viewer can actually get an understanding of how the meal is made.

Always find the sections when John makes a dish really interesting. Wish there was more of that.

Agree too many 'talking heads', weepy contestants talking about their emotional journeys"