Sooshi Mango has responded to the criticism surrounding their episode of the reality show.

Sooshi Mango on MasterChef / Sarah Todd.

Sooshi Mango’s episode of MasterChef has secured a huge win for the reality show. Photos: Channel 10

It may have been one of the most divisive episodes this season, but Sooshi Mango’s recent appearance on MasterChef Australia has secured a huge win for the reality show. The popular comedy group received a mixed reaction from viewers when they made a surprise cameo in Monday night’s episode to kick off ‘Viral Week’.

The trio, made up of brothers Joe and Carlo Salanitri and their friend Andrew Manfre, dressed up as Italian nonnas to taste the contestants’ dishes and give their feedback. Although some viewers described the skit as “awkward”, “embarrassing” and “hard to watch”, it’s been revealed that the group’s appearance resulted in the highest-rated episode of the season.

Sooshi Mango recently shared a post on social media celebrating their successful cameo on the show, which typically averages under a million viewers per episode.

“Holy cannoli! Our episode on MasterChef recorded the highest overnight audience figures of the season so far! Reached 1.29 million people making it the biggest audience of the year! Had so much fun with everyone. Was a great day!” they wrote. “Who thinks we need our own show?”

Sooshi Mango on MasterChef.

1.29 million people tuned into Monday night’s episode of MasterChef. Photo: Instagram/sooshimango

Several well-known comedians have since taken to the comments to applaud the achievement, including Tanya Hennessy, Jimmy Rees and Frank Spadone.

“Cause ya bloody amazing!” Ryan Gallagher wrote, while Celeste Barber added, “It was so funny!”.

Sooshi Mango also responded to the criticism surrounding their episode and said that if they offended anyone, then they “must have done something right”.

“If some people were offended by that, then they would have lost their minds with the stuff the editors cut from the episode. That was as G-rated as we can get!” they wrote.

Several MasterChef fans took to Reddit following the episode to complain that Sooshi Mango’s cameo was the “worst episode of the season”.

“I NEVER fast forward through MasterChef AU, and I fast-forwarded through 90% of this. It was horrible and cringeworthy. Don’t do this again. It wasn’t funny,” one person wrote, while another added, “I had to turn it off lol. I’m just going to watch tomorrow’s like this episode never happened”.

“I am relieved I’m not the only one who thinks so. Worst episode of the entire show, ever,” someone else declared, followed by a different user who said, “Glad to see that I’m not the only one sharing the sentiment.”

However, plenty of people praised the “hilarious” episode and went so far as to say it was the “best episode” they’ve ever seen.

“I loved this episode, those guys are so funny,” one fan said, with another adding, “Absolutely loved tonight’s show”.

“This will be, now and forever, the best episode ever made,” someone else declared, while a fourth remarked, “I am obsessed with this episode”.