'I tried McDonald's McRib sandwich - but two things left me very disappointed'

McDonald’s is my guilty pleasure, so I admit my interest was piqued when I was told there was set to be a “top secret” launch coming.

But the secret quickly got out that the was making a return, with several hints along the way. These included a test notification 'glitch' for some users on the app, which took people to an error page, while spokespeople added to speculation with talk of bringing back fan favourites and telling consumers to stay tuned.

And when I was emailed ahead of time to be told the tasting event would be serving pork, it became very obvious. The McRib pops up from time-to-time in other countries, but despite visiting many foreign McDonald's branches while on holiday (and Italy are the best, for what it's worth) this would be my first time trying it.

The McRib was last seen in the UK in 2015 - so fans have been long anticipating its return. And those of us at the tasting event earlier this week had even longer to wait, after “technical difficulties” meant it took over three hours for our McRibs to be served from the Maccy's branded food truck outside the East venue.

But was the much-hyped sandwich worth the wait? Personally, if I said yes I’d be telling porkies. I’d never tried a McRib before but pictures I’ve seen of it promised a thick and juicy rib patty, slathered in a rich sauce reminiscent of the char sui pork served in my favourite local Chinese restaurant, so I was excited to tuck in.

But sadly the reality was disappointing... I was confronted with a thin, sad-looking burger. Meanwhile, the sauce was patchy and a bit too tangy for my liking. The only bit I really enjoyed was the doughy bun, which had been toasted to perfection - but the filling is really what makes a decent sandwich.

Overall, I wasn't Lovin’ It - and will stick to my trusty double cheeseburger with extra cheese next time I visit a McDonald's restaurant. There are also better-tasting items on the menu for a fraction of the £4.49 single sandwich or £6.19 medium meal price.

But although I may think some things are better left in the past, the McRib is famously divisive. It was first removed from the menu in 1985 when (nicer) chicken nuggets became more widely available and pork prices increased. But its comebacks and hype around it do prove there are fans out there.

As does the fact there's several Facebook pages with thousands of members calling for it to make a return, plus even a locator that tells you when and where it is re-available. So while I may grimace at the thought of ever eating a McRib again, there will undoubtedly be millions of people squealing with delight at its return.