Masterchef contestant 'thrilled' show went ahead

Penelope Hester is considering applying for Sewing Bee and Bake Off

The first contestant to leave this year's MasterChef says the latest series "should have been shown, absolutely" despite controversy.

Penelope Hester, from Dorset, was the first to be eliminated from the series which was filmed before its presenters, Gregg Wallace and John Torode, were sacked.

The New Zealand-born writer, who lives in the north of the county, said: "Reality television lives and dies on its contestants and I was really thrilled it went ahead."

She said she was now considering applying for other shows, including the Great British Bake Off and Great British Sewing Bee.

Speaking on Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast show, she said: "I met the other contestants, and they're all absolutely delightful people and they come from all walks of life.

"I've been a presenter on a television show, so presenters come, they go.

"But, you know, contestants are what reality television [is about], the guts of it."

Ms Hester said she was initially relieved after being eliminated from the show, but disappointed not to make it to the quarter finals.

She said: "I'd quite like to have a go at Bake Off and I also I sew.

"I quite like to have a go at the Sewing Bee as well."

MasterChef presenters Wallace and Torode were dismissed last month after a report into conduct on the cooking show upheld complaints against them.

The BBC decided to broadcast the series, saying it was "the right thing to do" for the chefs who took part.