October 12th 2024.
Last week’s episode of the spin-off series Bake Off: An Extra Slice caused quite a stir when guests Jonathan Ross, Ravneet Gill, and Josh Pugh discussed the challenges faced by contestants during Bread Week. The conversation then turned to the panel’s thoughts on bread itself, with Jonathan declaring his love for all loaves and Josh stating that he’s never met anyone who doesn’t like bread. Ravneet, however, shared a different perspective, revealing that her mother has coeliac disease and shouldn’t eat bread, but still does.
This sparked a response from Jo Brand, who said “Good for her,” to which Jonathan added, “And good for whoever cleans up after her.” These comments did not sit well with Coeliac UK, who wrote an open letter to the show’s producers expressing their concern. The charity felt that the comments trivialized the seriousness of coeliac disease and sent a harmful message to the public.
In their letter, Coeliac UK emphasized that coeliac disease is not a food preference or an allergy, but a serious autoimmune condition that requires a strict gluten-free diet for life. Even the smallest amount of gluten can cause severe symptoms and potential health complications. The charity also noted that they were disappointed by Ravneet’s comments, given her previous role as a judge on Junior Bake Off where she showed compassion for those with coeliac disease.
Coeliac UK called for an apology on air to address the dismissive and inaccurate portrayal of the condition on the show. They also hoped that this incident would encourage the show to engage in respectful conversations about coeliac disease and its impact on individuals and families.
The backlash continued on social media, with many viewers expressing their disappointment and concern over the comments made on the show. This is not the first time that coeliac disease has been trivialized on television, with Vanessa Feltz facing backlash for her comments about the disease on This Morning last year.
Feltz later apologized on her talk show, but the damage had already been done, with thousands of complaints to Ofcom. Coeliac disease is a serious condition that should not be taken lightly, and the charity hopes that media representations will accurately reflect the challenges faced by those with the disease and promote understanding and accommodation for dietary needs.
Channel 4 has been contacted for comment on the issue. The Great British Bake Off will continue on Tuesday at 8pm. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us, calling, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We would love to hear from you.
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