Celebrity MasterChef’s John and Gregg open-mouthed by ‘show first’ as contestant debones fish by hand

CELEBRITY MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace were left open-mouthed by a ‘show first’ in the latest episode.

The pair may think they have seen it all during their 18 years in the Masterchef kitchen, but it turns out they haven’t.

Wednesday’s episode saw five new celebrities enter the kitchen; The Wanted’s Max George, comedian Shazia Mirza, broadcaster Terry Christian, kids TV presenter Dave Benson Phillips and radio broadcast Remi Burgz.

Their first challenge was Under The Cloche, where they each had to pick up a cloche with a mystery ingredient underneath.

BBC Radio 1Xtra host Remi ended up with a whole mackerel, which she had to debone, fillet and cook in the allotted time.

Despite revealing to the judges that she didn’t cook much as her mum was so good at it, she tackled the fish with gusto.

But while most chefs would prepare the fish with a knife, John and Gregg were left agog as Remi deboned the fish with her bare hands.

John, 58, said: “Can it get any better? Yes it can do, because we’ve got someone who can fillet a fish without using a knife.”

As he stood with Remi, he asked: “You’ve taken the bones out of the fish by pulling it apart and opening it up?”

She replied: “Yes that’s the strategy I’ve gone for.”

Later Gregg, 58, admitted: “I can’t actually believe it’s worked.”

Celebrity Masterchef fans were equally quick to comment on what they saw.

Taking to X – formerly Twitter – one wrote: “That’s quite clever filleting a fish with your bare hands.”

Another added: “Remi just pulling bones out with her bare hands like a legend. Knives are for weaklings.”

A third joked: “‘Last up is Remi who’s torn apart a cow with her bare hands….'”

Meanwhile a fourth wrote: “excited by how quickly this has become Remi’s Bareknuckle Animal Wrestling.”

Celebrity Masterchef continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One.