"After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.

The BBC has made a right dog’s dinner of the MasterChef saga, but its decision to broadcast the culinary contest’s latest series after all is the right one. In the “scrap it or screen it?” debate, screening it won out.

The BBC has confirmed that the amateur series of MasterChef, filmed last year before the sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode, will still air in full. Earlier this month, a report revealed that more than 40 complaints against Wallace relating to inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour had been upheld,