Campaign

I'm a big fan of MasterChef and wish it were on commercial TV. And the current MasterChef: The Professionals series is moving along well.

The role of big gurning Gregg Wallace, usually so central to the MasterChef experience, is hard to fathom though. While he's usually a crackerjack of enthusiasm, opinions and expressions he's not himself on this version of the show.

Probably because he has to blindly follow the opinions of top chef Michel Roux Jnr. who, as a god of the commercial kitchen (he has two Michelin stars don't you know) is held in awe by each contestant. He might look and act like a simian automaton but his pronouncements carry the weight of Zeus.

That's a shame for Gregg because he's essentially become Roux's nodding dog. Albeit one who scoffs a lot of creme brulee, but a nodding dog all the same.

And though all young chefs seem to want to be Roux (a bit like all nine-year-olds on the play ground want to be Wayne Rooney) professional cooking doesn't look as much fun as professional football. Why would anyone, anywhere, want to be a chef? It's hot, repetitive work with long hours and low pay so what's the point?