BBC MasterChef fans call for 'instant disqualification' after player's major error

BBC viewers demanded a contestant be disqualified out of MasterChef after he made a huge blunder during a taste test with the judges. The six hopefuls - Naomi, Martin, Joy, Michael, Reuben and Victoria - were challenged to impress Gregg Wallace and John Torode with a dish for the "basic to brilliant" task. They were told to take something they would normally cook at home and elevate it into something "extraordinary".

IT project manager Reuben opted to serve up classic beef and pork mince meatballs with handmade pappardelle pasta in tomato sauce. But disaster struck when Gregg cut into the meatballs - only to discover they were raw in the middle. While the judges praised his pasta and sauce, they didn't hold back on the main problem. Gregg told him: "Big issue with the meatballs," as John added: "I cannot ignore the fact that you've got meatballs that aren't cooked all the way through."

Reuben admitted, "I'm feeling deflated. After all, they weren't cooked all the way through, so I can forgive them for not wanting to eat them."

Fans at home were quick to pile in, insisting the error should have seen him disqualified.

One raged: "Undercooked meatballs should be instant disqualification." Another added: "Were they cooked with a blowtorch?" A third fumed: "Sorry, but that's a major schoolboy error at the stage he should absolutely be disqualified. Shame."

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