Ben Ungermann suddenly disappears from MasterChef for Katy Perry’s episode… after he was mysteriously arrested during filming
Ben Ungermann was noticeably absent from Thursday night’s immunity challenge on MasterChef Australia: Back to Win.
Eagle-eyed fans scanned the gantry for the muscular chef, eventually coming to the conclusion he had been ‘kicked off’ the show after his arrest during filming.
Some viewers were baffled by the lack of acknowledgement that he’d gone, while other said they would miss their favourite contestant.
Where could he be? MasterChef fans noticed contestant Ben Ungermann was absent for Katy Perry Day… after he was mysteriously arrested during filming
‘Okay but tea time – where is Ben? Has he been kicked off,’ one fan tweeted.
‘I’m trying to scan the gantry to see him .. I wonder if his absence will be explained on the show?’ another asked.
‘I’m very sad. Regardless of the reason why Ben had to leave I know it’s coming. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to fall,’ a third viewer wrote on Facebook.
‘I will admit in his original season I thought of him as “the ice cream guy”, a one-note wonder. But this time around I’ve fallen in love with his talent in all areas. I wish him all the best in life.’
‘Best wishes to Ben’: While some viewers were just baffled by the lack of acknowledgement that he had gone, others mourned the on-screen loss of their favourite contestant
‘The incident with him must have happened [before the episode was filming]. Such a shame and it’s Katy night,’ a disappointed fan wrote.
Another joked: ‘Channel 10 confirmed he was on a “toilet break” the whole time, they called me last night and told me.’
Fans are eagerly awaiting Sunday’s episode to see whether Ben returns, or if his exit from the competition will be addressed.
‘The incident with him must have happened such a shame and it’s Katy night,’ one fan wrote on Facebook. Pictured (left to right) judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, Katy Perry and Jock Zonfrillo
It comes after MasterChef producers reportedly held crisis talks in March following Ben’s arrest ‘over a personal matter’ during filming.
Executives called the show’s editors into an emergency meeting and told them to ‘cut him out the best you can’, according to New Idea.
The incident apparently came as a shock to network bosses, with a source saying: ‘No one could have imagined something like that would ever happen.’
Crisis talks: It comes after Channel 10 ‘called an emergency meeting’ to address Ben’s arrest during filming, before deciding to edit him out ‘the best they could’
Ben himself has acknowledged his infrequent appearances on screen, saying in an Instagram post that ‘it’s up to MasterChef’ what happens in the editing suite.
News of Ben’s arrest surfaced on March 24, prompting a spokesperson for Endemol Shine to issue a brief statement to the media.
‘We can confirm Ben Ungermann has left the MasterChef Australia competition. As this is a police matter, we will not be making further comment.’
MasterChef continues Sunday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Edited out: Ben himself has acknowledged his infrequent appearances on screen, saying ‘it’s up to MasterChef’ what happens in the editing suite