Entertainment
Paul Hollywood ‘gutted’ to offend viewers over Bake Off’s Mexican Week: ‘I love the country’-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
‘I was really upset about it.’
Paul Hollywood says there was no intention to offend viewers (Picture: Channel 4)
Paul Hollywood has spoken out after offending viewers during Mexican Week on The Great British Bake Off.
The episode, which aired in October, saw 10 bakers tasked with serving up dishes that fit with the theme, but sparked controversy as viewers branded it in ‘poor taste’.
‘Disappointing’ gags were made by presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, who were criticised for a ‘racist’ joke they made when opening the show, also wearing sombreros and sarapes.
Contestants proceeded to create a pan dulce for The Signature, tacos for The Technical, and a tres leches cake for The Showstopper.
Social media users accused the show of ‘cultural appropriation’ and ‘perpetuating stereotypes’, with Paul now speaking out on the backlash for the first time.
The celebrity chef, 56, and his fellow judge, Dame Prue Leith, 82, were asked about the episode during an interview with Eater.
Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas made a joke which Bake Off fans said was in ‘poor taste’ (Picture: Channel 4)
He said: ‘I’d literally come back from Mexico about three weeks before we filmed the episode. I spent a month over there with Mexican chefs, working with tacos and enjoying the food in Tijuana and Mexico City and Oaxaca and Cancun. I was all over the place, and we set the challenges based on what I’d seen there. The challenges were very good, and everyone did a good job.
‘There’s not a bad bone in any of the bodies of anyone connected with Bake Off that would want to upset Mexico. And certainly not me, because I love the country.’
On the criticism, he added: ‘I was gutted. I mean, I was really upset about it.’
GBBO 2022 was won by Syabira Yusoff (Picture: PA)
Dame Prue also said the show ‘never goes out to be controversial’ and tries to be ‘dead honest’.
‘It was quite unfortunate that quite a few people took offence, but we certainly didn’t mean it,’ she continued.
‘As Paul says, the thing about Bake Off is that it absolutely represents inclusivity and diversity and tolerance and togetherness.
Dame Prue loves how ‘encouraging’ Bake Off is (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
‘I don’t want to sound sentimental, but the fact is that the vibe of Bake Off is entirely cooperative and encouraging. So the idea that we were set out to insult anybody is ridiculous.’
This is the second time Dame Prue has spoken about the backlash to the recent series, which saw Syabira Yusoff crowned winner.
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During an interview with The New Yorker magazine at the end of October, Dame Prue said: ‘There would have been absolutely no intention to offend.
‘That’s not the spirit of the show.’
The Great British Bake Off is available to stream on All4.
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