Ahead of the new series airing, there had been speculation that the new episodes might be re-edited to reduce the presence of Wallace and Torode.
Both presenters appear from the outset and throughout the episodes, but there appear to be fewer jokes than usual and less chat between them and the chefs.
The Daily Star’s front page highlights criticism of the new series, saying heavy editing after the presenters were sacked for misconduct has left the show awkward and a “shambles”.
In a review, The Telegraph’s critic Ed Cumming wrote, external: “To show how seriously the BBC takes the allegations against the presenters, they have edited out their jokes.” The resulting series “lacks pizzazz”, he said.
The Standard’s Vicky Jessop wrote, external: “No jokes here – the production team presumably being terrified that anything either of them says would be taken the wrong way.”
The first episode “left a slightly sour taste in the mouth”, she added – a sentiment echoed by the Independent’s Nick Hilton, external, who wrote that the series is “tinged with a strange, bitter aftertaste”.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said as a viewer, she “certainly won’t be watching it”, but that it wasn’t her place to tell broadcasters what they could or couldn’t show.
Meanwhile, former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Kirsty Wark – who first came forward to BBC News with claims against Wallace – suggested the BBC could have refilmed the series without the two co-hosts.
The BBC previously said it had not been “an easy decision” to run the series, adding that there was “widespread support” among the chefs for it going ahead.