It was supposed to be the unmissable moment of Australian television.

Sunday night’s My Kitchen Rules was, we were led to believe, the episode where a pair of reality contestants finally went too far and were thrown off our screens by hosts Pete Evans and Manu Feildel in (and let’s quote the overblown promos here): “The most explosive! My Kitchen Rules!! YOU’VE EVER SEEN!!!”

Except it wasn’t.

Fans who had strapped themselves in for ‘The MKR Scandal’ were left a little flat by what turned out to be a fairly normal challenge with the usual ups and downs and only minimal sniping along the way.

Sunday’s theme was dessert, with the remaining eight teams setting up on Sydney’s Manly beach Corso to churn out (apologies) a signature ice cream.

“If you don’t like ice cream, you’re an A-hole,” Jess said.

“I don’t like ice cream,” said Stella in a moment that shows just how good the editor of this series is.

Watch how Seven hyped the show:

And away we went.

It was frantic, there were triumphs and mistakes along the way and with the winners getting their creation sold in Coles stores, it was a big stakes night.

Some teams rose to the occasion, others struggled and Sonya and Hadil tried to cheat, asking the punters to vote for them even if they didn’t like their ice cream “because we’re from NSW”.

But it was Nic and Josh who eventually took out the night with a chocolate hazelnut gelato that actually looked great. They smiled, Pete and guest judge Colin Fassnidge smiled, then with one final promotion promising the big scandal was coming soon, it was over.

The brunettes, Sonya and Hadil, or the blondes, Jess and Emma, expected to be booted … eventually. Photos: Channel Seven

And the fans weren’t exactly happy.

“I see #MKR is pulling the old A Current Affair bait & switch technique, coming up on #MKR drama you won’t believe (in two nights time),” said one on Twitter.

“So the ad they have been running for 2 weeks about the bombshell dinner party is just another bit of bulls—” wrote another.

“#MKR is pretty much one lying ad after another,” said a third.

But as disappointing as it was, the clues we weren’t going to see much were there all along.

The promos promised: “The MKR Scandal, Sunday, 7.00” and the message from Pete And Manu warned of behaviour so poor that “We had to act.”

But pay close attention and we get to Seven’s defence.

Josh and Nic made a nice ice cream. And not much else happened. Photo: Channel Seven

Sure, “Sunday 7:00” was in big letters, but just below and a lot smaller was “Mon–Tues–Wed”.

Pete said in his address to the nation, “This is the week it happens.” Not: “This Sunday.”

And it’s no surprise.

Still reeling from the drubbing MKR was given by Married at First Sight, Seven was always going to milk this for every possible ratings point.

Seven hid a tiny clue to the disappointment in its preview. Photo: Seven

So while Sunday was a bit of a letdown, don’t miss Monday when tensions start rising as the ultimate instant restaurants begin. By Tuesday expect things to be turned up to boiling point and then Wednesday … well let’s give Manu the final word.

“It was time to stop and say that’s enough,” Feildel told The New Daily.

“When you are sitting at somebody’s else home, you need to show respect. I teach my kids things like this …. but we’re dealing with adults! They missed the memo I think. They seemed to lose their way.

“We love the show, but we want it to continue with the right people. I hope we never, ever have to do this again.”

Until next time, of course.