Masterchef: The Professionals contestant forced to quit challenge after ‘red hot’ bisque explodes in her face

Cristina Gaia was making sauce for her signature dish when it exploded over her

Chaos erupted on the set of Masterchef: The Professionals when a chef was forced to withdraw from a challenge after a nasty accident left her face red and raw.

The BBC cookery competition series, which sees professional chefs competing for the coveted Masterchef trophy, returned this week. The second round of the heats took place on Tuesday (24 October), with the contestants whipping up new and impressive dishes to impress the judges: Gregg Wallace, Marcus Wareing, and Monica Galetti.

Among the competitors was chef Cristina Maia, who hails from Brazil, where she worked as an accountant for 20 years before moving to London to retrain as a chef.

After competing in the first round, the group were challenged to create their signature two-course meal. Gaia opted for a Brazilian dish, making moqueca, which is a fish stew with a spicy bisque.

The cook was shown working on the stew and making the bisque in a bullet-style blender. Wareing explained that the sauce was made of turmeric, ginger, coriander and chilli.

However, when Gaia went to unscrew the lid of the blender, the orange-yellow liquid exploded all over her, dousing the chef and the kitchen with sauce.

Gaia dabbed at her face and apologised, with Wallace rushing over to ask if she was alright. “Is that red hot?” he asked. “Get it under cold water, please.”

The bisque exploded all over Gaia (BBC)

A member of the show’s crew was then shown telling Gaia to dab cold cloths on her chin, which was red and looked painful.

Wareing then told the camera: “Unfortunately, Cristina’s had a bit of an accident. She put the bisque into the blender and it was incredibly hot. When she released the lid, unfortunately some of it hit her face.”

Wallace was shown advising Wallace: “I don’t think you should carry on. You’re hurt, so we’re going to stop.” Wareing explained that she had gone to get medical help and would not be continuing with the challenge.

Wallace told Gaia she should not continue (BBC)

The round continued for the other three chefs, who gathered once the challenge was over to discuss what had happened and express their sympathy for Gaia.

The judges also talked about what had happened, with a picture showing Gaia in hospital with a bandage on her chin. “Nobody’s fault, accidents happen,” Wallace said.

As a result of Gaia not continuing with the challenge, all three remaining chefs ended up going through to the next round and the quarter-finals. There, they will compete against the best cooks from the first episode.

Masterchef: The Professionals continues Thursday 26 October at 8pm on BBC One.