MasterChef fans accuse judges of favouring Georgia Barnes to ensure she makes grand final

MASTERCHEF fans have given the show’s judges a serve, accusing them of favouring Georgia Barnes.

MASTERCHEF Australia’s judges have been roasted by fans across social media, accusing them of serving Brisbane cook Georgia Barnes with a sweet ride into tonight’s grand final.

The close competition will be decided between Barnes and Ballina restaurant manager Billie McKay after WA-based bartender Jessica Arnott was eliminated last night.

Barnes clearly struggled throughout the two-course, service challenge — running well behind her rivals at every stage.

The judges found fault with both her dishes and also remarked on her lateness in serving her meals during the final adjudication but sent Arnott home over the questionable flavour combination of her grapefruit and popcorn dessert.

COMMENT BELOW: Is Georgia Barnes the favourite to win?

Fans flooded Twitter and Facebook with complaints, alleging Barnes was given extra support after she become emotional and overwhelmed during the critical, time-pressured cook.

If Georgia isn't penalised for taking so much time, its not really fair on the others is it? #masterchefau #conspiracy #scripted

— Big Masterchef Fan (@Masterchef_Fan) July 26, 2015

Georgia is the Shane Watson of Masterchef. Nobody quite knows how she's still here, but it's entertaining that she is. #masterchefau

— Lenternasanything (@nlentern1) July 26, 2015

To anyone saying #MasterChefAU is rigged so the most marketable person wins let me remind you that I won & I'm a pudgy Asian man in my 30s.

— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) July 26, 2015

Meanwhile, the grand final result has been a closely-guarded secret since the program pre-recorded two alternate endings two months ago — with Barnes and McKay to be told who wins by producers today, just hours ahead of broadcast.

The same filming format has been used in previous years in a bid to avoid spoilers, with only a limited number of editors and Ten programming staff privy to the winner before airtime.

In 2010, the show switched to a live finale after insiders struggled to keep a lid on the result in the previous launch season.

Battle ... Billie McKay will take on Georgia Barnes in tonight’s pre-recorded grand finale. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

That year — fought out between Julie Goodwin and Poh Ling Yeow — the show was pre-recorded in its entirety and watched by 3.7 million viewers.

Back then, Ten’s programming boss Beverley McGarvey said: “it wasn’t a pleasant three weeks last year (before the finale was screened). It’s such a massive production, there were a lot of people who knew the winner and had to keep a secret.”

While some argue a live finale adds to the thrill of the evening, it’s difficult to contain the program to its limited airtime (with late finishes also running a risk of losing the audience’s attention).

Marketable ... Georgia Barnes is under fire from some MasterChef fans over her semi-final performance. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

MasterChef Australia airs 7.30pm tonight on Channel 10

Twitter: @byrnesh