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MasterChef Fans rush to defend winner Thomas Frake after final

They praised 'worthy winner'

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When the MasterChef 2020 winner was announced as Thomas Frake, it is fair to say it attracted some controversy – but now fans have leapt to his defence.

In the final, the remaining three contestants – Thomas, Sandy Tang and David Rickett – prepared three courses for the judges.

As they delivered their verdict, Judge John Torode praised Thomas as “a real talent” and “a grafter”, while fellow judge Gregg Wallace approved of his “definitive style”.

Three contestants battled it out in the final of MasterChef 2020 (Credit: BBC)

Read more: Who won MasterChef 2020? The winner has been announced

Classic ‘pub grub’

Thomas’s decision to try a new take on pub classics won over the judges, but divided fans.

He served up a starter of monkfish tails in a beer batter with a main course of ox cheek braised in black treacle, bone marrow and porter.

He followed it with a dessert of salted caramel custard tart served with grated nutmeg, popcorn ice cream and toffee popcorn.

Read more: Masterchef serves up meat and poison with ‘toff’ contestant Teddy

John and Gregg chose their MasterChef winner (Credit: BBC)

But many thought 24-year-old Sandy’s duck egg ice cream and cannelloni offering deserved to take away the top prize for being more inventive and original.

Outrage over the winner

On Twitter, the outrage was palpable.

One fan wrote: “Sandy was absolutely robbed. The future of restaurant cuisine is ‘inventiveness’ and Sandy demonstrated that in abundance, anyone can cook classics/pub grub, but to invent something unique is a talent and Sandy should’ve been champion!”

Another waded in: “What a surprise! Didn’t think it would be Thomas, congrats for the win though. Sandy is my favourite, she is so brilliant! I pray she will have a Michelin restaurant someday.”

Thomas Frake faced the final with Sandy Tang and David Rickett (Credit: BBC)

However, plenty of fans came out in defence of Thomas.

Another tweeter said: “Nice to have a winner that cooks normal food.”

Yet another said: “Thomas, well done on winning MasterChef my wife and I were both drooling at your final dish #oldschool #tasty.”

A worthy winner

And one fan was in no doubt that Thomas’ sincerity and passion made him stand out.

“Absolutely loved this series. Thomas Frake was a worthy winner. If you cook from the heart and put your soul into your food, you will never go far wrong,” she wrote.

MasterChef judges praised Thomas for his “proper, old-fashioned, hearty grub” (Credit: BBC)

Did you think Thomas was a deserving winner or should Sandy have triumphed with her adventurous menu? Go to our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyfix and let us know your thoughts in the comments.