The second episode of Celebrity MasterChef saw Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby face criticism from judge Gregg Wallace for a crucial mistake in the first challenge.
The episode opened with the remaining contestants, including Crosby, Edith Bowman, Ian "H" Watkins and Craig Doyle, tasked with working in pairs to prepare a dessert for judges Wallace and John Torode. The twist? Only one member of each team had the recipe, forcing them to rely on communication.
Crosby and Bowman were assigned the lemon meringue tart with limoncello syrup. Wallace and Torode observed their teamwork early on, with Wallace noting that Crosby needed to be more attentive to Bowman's instructions. This concern proved valid as Crosby announced to Bowman, "I've accidentally done something really bad. I've separated all the eggs!"
Despite the rocky start, the teams pressed on, and as the clock ticked down, the pairs presented their desserts. Wallace immediately pointed out the disparity in the meringues, with Bowman's achieving the desired peaks while Crosby's remained flat.
When the judges sampled the tart, Torode praised Crosby's lemon curd and pastry but criticised the limoncello syrup for not being properly infused. Wallace then delivered the scathing critique: "The meringue, although you've got a crisp on the outside of it, it's too soft in the middle. It's raw egg white."
Crosby's raw meringue drew the sharpest criticism from Wallace, highlighting a critical flaw in her baking skills.
After receiving feedback, Bowman admitted that creating identical dishes for two people was a difficult task. Crosby agreed, adding, "I don't [think it's possible], but we got lots of good comments."
This episode showcased the importance of communication and precision in the kitchen, and Crosby's mistake served as a stark reminder of the high standards demanded on Celebrity MasterChef. It remains to be seen how this early hiccup will affect her chances in the competition.
