MasterChef viewers have been left divided as the controversial 21st series arrived on BBC iPlayer before its TV premiere after the broadcaster’s decision to air the episodes.

The popular show is set to return to television screens tonight after a last-minute scramble to re-edit it and limit the appearances of its stars Gregg Wallace and John Torode.

Both presenters had been axed from hosting future iterations of the long-running cookery contest in recent weeks.

Ahead of its debut on linear television, the first three episodes of MasterChef have been made available to watch immediately on catch up.

However, as fans tuck into the under-fire culinary series, they’ve been left divided as they flocked to social media to share their thoughts.

One viewer blasted the BBC as ‘disgusting’ and added that the corporation ‘have nothing to be proud of’.

Another wrote: ‘I won’t be watching. You shouldn’t be showing it either. Poor decision Mr Davie. I think your days are numbered.’

‘How obvious is it one of the contestants have been edited out,’ a third viewer pointed out.

A fourth posted: ‘Without the banter and build-up by the hosts there’s no narrative so the highly edited #Masterchef falls strangely flat . At least the contestants got their moment – kind of.’

Any traditional banter between Torode and Wallace with their six wannabe chefs appears to have been all but ripped out in the final cut.

Much of the conversations appear to be very factual, with the hosts rapidly quizzing contestant’s about their dishes – and little else.

In one 12-second clip, Torode, 60, is seen speaking to hopeful cook Gemma, a business development boss, and asking her simply ‘where did you learn this style of cookery’ before it cuts to a single frame of him nodding as she replies.

While an 18-second interaction between the host and Gemma later on sees Torode asking ‘what have you decided to cook for us’, before the camera cuts back to him silently nodding twice while she responds.

In another segment, Wallace, 60, chats very briefly to another contestant, Beth, with editors cutting to two different clips of him smiling broadly as she describes her food.

Any traditional banter between Torode and Wallace with their six wannabe chefs appears to have been all but ripped out in the final cut

Some MasterChef fans have praised and thanked the BBC for letting the series see the light of day.

One commented: ‘Another good series. Shame they got rid of John Torode.’

Another penned: ‘Thank you for showing it, one of my favourite things to watch on TV. I will put to the back of my mind the presenters and enjoy the efforts of the contestants which is what the show is all about.’

Wallace and Torode were both sacked from the program in quick succession last month.

MasterChef viewers took to social media to share their thoughts as the fandom was left divided over the scenes

Wallace was fired after more than 45 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation.

Australian-born chef John, 59, also lost his job after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have ‘absolutely no recollection’ of.

One contestant, Sarah Shafi, will not appear on the programme after she complained about the behaviour of Gregg Wallace.

She claimed she was ‘eyed up and ogled’ by Gregg Wallace on the show, while accusing the TV host of making an ‘off’ comment about his reputation with women