Masterchef, Michel Roux and the BBC's dodecahedral standards...

Hello!

Today is going to be a moan and groan session at the BBC and their recent decision to make it difficult for Michel Roux Jr. to stay on.

For those who don’t know or don’t care (until now), Michel Roux Jr. is a very talented chef who presents Master Chef “The Professionals” on BBC2. He was recently coerced out of the position due to “a conflict of interest” regarding certain products.

Roux is a firm believer in Albert Bartlett potatoes; a family run potato business in Scotland which Roux regards as outstanding potato growers but also family friends. He uses them in La Gavroche and also appeared in a television advert, or “commercial” for you American readers, singing the praises of the Albert Bartlett potatoes.

The BBC as many know have a rather strict policy on brand-plugging, i.e. no one can advertise products on their programmes. This has led me to believe the BBC are even bigger hypocrites than I am (see previous posts about how I hate Instagram and blogging…HA!). These points of contention are as follows.

1)      Saturday Kitchen: all the guest chefs on that particular programme plug their new upcoming books, their newly opened restaurants and future appearances at cookery shows.

2)      James Martin: uses his own range of cookware on his programmes. His left wrist is also the biggest purveyor of “Rolex” sports watches on the BBC.

3)      Raymond Bland: uses his own range of cookware on his programmes. “Who is this idiot who designed this stupid whisk. Oh la la, it’s one of mine!” He laughs, holding the brand logo up for all to see. (available from Debenhams for those interested. I have no problems plugging products on here. “Analon” does most of the Raymond Blanc products. What lovely cooks’ knives he has, and at such a reasonable price point! Alternatives include John Lewis “Robert Welch” which are the best knives outside of the omnipresent “Global” knives.)

4)    Alan Sugar: his programme was ALL about finding new recruits for his company.

Ultimately I am frustrated that some presenters can plug away at their new products (I have no problem with this) but when the BBC come in with their double-triple-dodecahedral standards to force out one of the better presenters on a programme, it brings me to a rolling boil. (See what I did there? #kitchenhumour). So we say goodbye to a culinary legend from our regular evening schedules; what will Greg do without Michel?

The reason for his leaving must be, and purely speculative *ahem* that they have a replacement in mind. So, comments below if you give a damn; try and guess the next presenter of Masterchef: The Professionals. Mons. Roux, if you’re reading, we wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavours.

My guess will have to be Marcus Wareing at first guess, with second bet being Phil Howard from the Square.

BenY