Come Dine With Me has removed a contestant for the show without explaining why, in what appears to be a first for the programme.

Viewers were left confused after 40-year-old music producer Rory Nicoll, who took part in two nights of the Central Scotland edition, was taken off the show.

Commentator Dave Lamb told viewers that he had been removed after "incidents that happened away from the dinner party" and would not be returning.

The music producer, who worked on the Scottish film The Fairy Flag, appeared to rub fellow diners up the wrong way in the parts of the show where he did appear.

In his introduction he said that people who first met him tended to find him "cocky and arrogant".

He engaged in a bizarre argument with a fellow diner over which Take That member was more talented (Rory defended Gary Barlow) which got so heated that another guest had to step in.

There have been plenty of awkward incidents on Come Dine With Me - it's part of the appeal of the show - but this appears to be the first time that a contestant has actually been removed.

Fans demanded to know what had happened, with one going so far as to submit a Freedom of Information request.

We recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of one of the greatest Come Dine With Me moments of all time.

Peter Marsh, aka the world's sorest loser, failed to get on with any of his fellow contestants, and made sure winner Jane endured the full brunt of his wrath.

The Independent has contacted Channel 4 for comment about Rory Nicoll.