Channel 4 bosses have refused to explain why a Perthshire contestant was booted off cooking show Come Dine With Me.
Mystery surrounds the sudden exit of 41-year-old music producer Rory Nicoll.
He was seen hosting a dinner party during a recent episode filmed in central Scotland.
Mr Nicoll was shown having an on-screen argument with fellow contestant Darren Esposito over which Take That contestant was best.
Halfway through the episode — available to view online — viewers were told he had left the show. Narrator David Lamb said on air that Mr Nicoll had been removed following “incidents that happened away from the dinner party” and would not be returning.
Channel 4 has refused to comment further.
Fellow contestant Jennifer Judge hinted that he was forced out because he refused to apologise to another guest. “There was a bit of drama and a first on the show,” she said.
“On the first night everybody came to mine and on the second night, the host (Mr Nicoll) had a bit of an argument with the other gentleman. The producer said if the host didn’t apologise, he would get kicked off.”
Now viewers have lodged a freedom of information request with Channel 4, demanding to know why Mr Nicoll, who worked on Scottish film The First Flag, was ejected.
Fans took to social media to voice their concerns.
Come on @Channel4 – put it us out of misery!! Why was Rory removed from #cdwm?! ??? https://t.co/EUMbfmQZuH
— Joanna Halton (@joannahalton) January 6, 2017
Why did Rory get booted off #cdwm seriously can't be because of an argument over Take That lol
— Wendy Hill (@woowoowend) January 6, 2017
Wonder if Rory had a square go at Darren and that's why he was kicked off? #comedinewithme #cdwm
— Leonie ????? (@penguinoni) January 6, 2017
In his introduction on the show, Mr Nicoll said that people who first met him tended to find him “cocky and arrogant”.
He defended Gary Barlow in a bizarre argument with another guest. The row became so heated, other contestants had to step in.
Only three guests took part in the final dinner party of the show.