Viewers of MasterChef: The Professionals were tickled pink on Thursday night by new judge, Anna Haugh, praising her as ‘brilliant’ and ‘a breath of fresh air’.
After long-serving judge Monica Galetti left the series earlier this year, she was replaced by the Irish chef, who has joined Gregg Wallace and Marcus Wareing as they taste the dishes of working chefs who have signed up to the reality cooking show.
With a fresh line-up of 32 chefs competing for the title, Anna had got stuck into the role of firm but fair overseer of kitchen dreams.
The Myrtle restaurant founder has big shoes to fill but it seems her chatty yet eloquent manner has been a big hit with fans at home.
‘Masterchef professionals is all the better for having Anna Haugh on board. Brilliant, brilliant addition. Frantically wanting to book Myrtle now!’ gushed one viewer, while another added: ‘Really enjoying the contributions of new judge Anna Haugh @MasterChefUK Works well with @marcuswareing @GreggAWallace [sic]’
Others described her as ‘ace’ and ‘excellent’, while one fan shared: ‘I miss Monica on #Masterchef but I’m really liking Anna Haugh – think she’s a really good addition!’
I miss Monica on #Masterchef but Iâ€
m really liking Anna Haugh – think she†s a really good addition! — Laura Davidson (@lovelylaurajd) November 3, 2022
It seemed that her Irish brogue has been going down a treat with MasterChef’s audience too, as one fan asked: ‘Is it just me or can anyone else just sit and listen to Anna Haugh talk all day?’
In her second appearance on the show on Thursday night, Anna’s skill test saw the professional chefs asked to demonstrate their flair for butchery as they prepared a meal of rose veal kidneys with a potato rosti and creamy mustard sauce.
The judge was thoughtful with her comments, tending towards positive but not afraid to criticise, as she told hopeful chef Beatrice that ‘a deep breath’ in one challenge would have helped her execute it better.
‘What I have in front of me isn’t what I was hoping for,’ she added.
With Brendan and Beatrice eventually sent home, it’s Johnny and Owen that made it through to the quarter final.
MasterChef: The Professionals continues on Friday at 8pm on BBC One.
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