MasterChef fans were left slightly confused during the latest instalment of the hit BBC cooking competition, as a swear word John Torode said before 9pm went unbleeped.
The 18th series continued on Tuesday night and to kick off semi-finals week, the ten remaining cooks were given their first taste of what it's like to work in a restaurant setting.
With judge John running the pass as Birmingham chef Pookie approached with a dish, he told her she needs to talk to her fellow MasterChef hopefuls.
He added: “Go back and tell them you've put their plate on the pass and tell them, because you've just, commonly known as, dropped them in the s***.”
BBC viewers at home were left baffled by John's choice of language, which went unbleeped during the broadcast, despite airing being the watershed mark of 9pm.
Taking to Twitter, one wrote: “Everyone watching MasterChef wondering if John is allowed to say ‘s***’ before the watershed.”
Another asked: “Is ‘s***’ allowed before the watershed?”
Another social media user posted: “John doesn't want their food dropped in the s***. Pretty sure he just said that…,” as a fellow viewer chimed: “Are we saying ‘s***’ at 8.25 on BBC1 these days then…? That’s new…”
Another compared John to famously foulmouthed Gordon Ramsay, while one wrote: “You've just what's commonly known as dropping them in the s***. Calm down John. Was that really necessary?”
Another asked: “Er...are you allowed to say "Drop them in the s***" before 9pm, as John just did?”
One fan was gleeful at the apparent oversight, writing: “Did John just say s***? Excellent.”
With the semi-finals underway, one cook in particular stood out as a winning candidate, as Pookie wowed with her culinary ability.
Pookie, a retired beauty salon owner, has consistently impressed judges John and Gregg Wallace with her imaginative dishes.
And tonight, the 45-year-old sailed through to the final eight, with viewers equally impressed by her time on the show.
Alongside an array of red love heart emojis, one person wrote: “Can we just end MasterChef now and declare Pookie as the winner? Love her.”
Another posted: “Pookie to have her own show soon whatever happens on MasterChef. Reckon she will win, though,” while a third remarked: “Pookie is a national treasure in the making.”
MasterChef continues on Thursday, April 26 at 8pm on BBC One.
