Second MasterChef contestant edited out of new series

A second MasterChef contestant has been edited out of this year's scandal-hit series, BBC News can exclusively reveal.

A spokesperson for the show's production company, Banijay, said: "One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included. We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show."

Another contestant, Sarah Shafi, was also removed from the series after asking for it not to be broadcast, following a report which upheld claims against hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.

The BBC decided to still show this year's amateur series, which was filmed before the pair were sacked, saying it was "the right thing to do" for the chefs who took part.

But it faced a backlash from some women who came forward, while the broadcast union Bectu said bad behaviour "should not be rewarded with prime-time coverage".

Former Celebrity MasterChef contestant and BBC journalist Kirsty Wark also suggested the BBC could have refilmed the series without the two co-hosts.

• MasterChef returns with sacked hosts but without their jokes
• Gregg Wallace sacked as 50 more people make claims
• MasterChef crisis: Wallace and Torode were 'never friends'

In the event, both Wallace and Torode remain in the series, which began last week on BBC One and on iPlayer.

But the episodes appear to have been edited to include fewer jokes than usual, with less chat between them and the chefs.

The episode which would have featured the second contestant was broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday night, but only featured five chefs rather than the usual six.

BBC News understands the individual has asked not to be identified and they will not feature in the show.

It's believed Shafi's episode has not yet aired.

The BBC previously said it had not been "an easy decision" to run the series, adding that there was "widespread support" among the chefs for it going ahead.

"In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters," it said.

"However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series."