Last week, one of the contestants on the new series of MasterChef said she was edited out after asking for it not to be broadcast.<\/p>\n
Sarah Shafi told BBC Newsnight that “in an ideal world, what would have happened is that it would have been axed” out of respect to those people whose complaints had been upheld.<\/p>\n
Her comments came as the BBC faced mounting pressure<\/a> to reconsider airing the series.<\/p>\n Bectu said that freelancers whose complaints had been upheld would “undoubtedly be triggered” by the decision to air the series, while a leading women’s rights charity warned many people would feel “deeply uncomfortable” to see the show on their TV screens.<\/p>\n Some of the women who made allegations against Gregg Wallace have also told BBC News that they didn\u2019t think it should be aired, with one saying it showed “a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward”.<\/p>\n The BBC previously said<\/a> it had not been “an easy decision” to run the series, adding that there was “widespread support” among the chefs for it going ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n The controversy over MasterChef started last year, when BBC News first revealed<\/a> claims of misconduct against Gregg Wallace.<\/p>\n