MasterChef: Professionals viewers outraged as show bids au revoir to ‘genius’ French chef – after Marcus Wareing tells him he ‘tried too hard’ with jellied egg dish

The latest episode of MasterChef: The Professionals has caused quite a stir after a fan favorite was unexpectedly given the boot.

Philippe Sonou, a private chef from Paris, had been tipped to win the show thanks to his inventive African-inspired cooking, but the 33-year-old controversially lost in a super close semi-final.

Viewers were left fuming on their televisions as judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace announced that Phillipe and Kyle – who were also thought to have been permanently ruled out of the final – were going home.

Instead, Charlie and Lauren, who impressed during the episode’s second chance, have booked their places for the final stage of the competition.

The sight of Philippe packing up his white chef and leaving the Pro behind left many wondering if the right decision had been made – with one viewer saying they would be boycotting the show from now on, and another admitting they’d ‘ were deeply saddened.

In the semi-final – episode 16 – eight chefs competed for a place in the final.

After the first round, four automatically went through to the final, while those who weren’t impressed had to cook again – serve a plant-based plate – and two chefs had to leave the show.

Philippe’s first dish – cassava fries, coconut, lemongrass and plantain puree with a tomato-based sauce inspired by his West African heritage – did not meet the judges’ expectations.

After Kasae, James, Tom and Daniel sailed through, Philippe returned again to cook, this time serving an ‘oeuf parfait’, a slow-cooked egg topped with alligator pepper in a hay-infused smoked pepper jelly with curry-coconut cream and spinach coulis .

Marcus Wareing called Philippe’s oeuf parfait ‘challenging’, while Gregg Wallace admitted he ‘struggled’ with the contrasting flavors

When Philippe received the news that his journey on the show had come to an end, viewers were outraged on his behalf.

Monica described the serving as a visual ‘miracle’, telling the Parisian: ‘I have crazy tastes, but I know I enjoy it…’

However, Gregg admitted he “struggled” with the contrasting flavors… and Marcus didn’t hold back. He said Philippe “tried too hard” and said the dish was “so unusual that it was a challenge.”

The decision to end Philippe’s trip there sparked outrage on social media.

One viewer wrote: ‘This whole episode has been a mess. If Philippe – in my opinion the best chef left – goes home, I’m out for the rest of the series.’

Elsewhere there was outright anger, with one viewer writing: ‘What the hell is going on? How did you dump Philippe??? He should never have been in that cook. The first dish was described as challenging, but challenging in a way that had merit. No man, I’m not happy. #philippewasrobbed.’

In the first round of episode 16, the chef had served cassava fries, coconut, lemongrass and plantain puree with a tomato-based sauce inspired by his West African heritage – but the judges weren’t crazy about it

Philippe was tipped to take the Professionals crown this year… but was controversially handed the title in the semi-final

Philosophical: The private chef said he would remain inventive in the kitchen

Talented chef Kyle from the North East, who looked like he had secured a definitive place in the final, also went home in the close semi-final

Another added: ‘Oh bloody hell. What have they done? Philippe was by far the most exciting chef they have had at this competition. Possibly someday.’

One wrote: ‘Actually heartbroken that Philippe has left the competition. I was so sure he would win.”

One fan mourned, saying: ‘The worst part is that we can’t even go to a restaurant to try Philippe’s amazing cooking because he is a private chef.’

The remaining six competitors will now be divided into two groups, with each group competing against each other in a Michelin-starred kitchen to try and reach the final prize – and have a chance to win the final trophy.