Published: 16 February, 2012
by RICHARD OSLEY

WITH the competition at such a crucial stage, no wonder Wednesday night's action was such compelling television.

As John Torode said to the players at the start: “Your destiny is in your own hands, IMPRESS US.” The Masterchef Champions League thing really was the only thing that anybody could possibly have been watching.

Just in case you missed it, there were some onions.

And some lobsters.

I saw a leek.

And then some more expensive food that we would all aspire to eat if only we had the time and the cash to work out 20 different ways to cook scallops.

On Wednesday's Masterchef, there wasn't a microwavable balti in sight, but then there is nothing better than watching Gregg Wallace eat and then talk some words.

No wonder so many people watch it. I couldn't make up mind whether Aki or Shelina did better.

Then the contestants met another chef who liked foraging.

And then they cooked some more food. And then it ended.

What's that?

There was a football match on the other side?

Arsenal fans better get used to watching Masterchef.

And EastEnders.

And when that's all done they'll have to scan the cable channels for five-year-old episodes of Location, Location, Location and endless documentaries about people in jail in America. Midweek football looks like it will be severely rationed next season. The game’s up.

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