Entertainment
Bake Off: The Professionals criticised for featuring puppy yoga after cruelty allegations-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro
‘What were you thinking?’
Bake Off: The Professionals competitors partake in puppy yoga (Picture: Channel 4)
Bake Off: The Professionals has made its return to our TV screens with a brand new host Ellie Taylor, but some viewers were more concerned about the use of animals.
Viewers of the Channel 4 show were introduced to bakers Nicoletta and Georgina from Meraki Baking Studio, who are competing in tasks that test their kitchen skills in a bid to be named champions.
In a segment designed for us to get to know them a little more, we were informed about their puppy yoga hobby.
We see the pair performing moves, while the adorable animals scurry around their feet.
Co-host Liam Charles, 25, explained in a voiceover: ‘If they’re not dancing, Nicoletta and Georgina can be found practising mindfulness at the latest craze – puppy yoga.’
This editorial choice was criticised by some people who’d tuned into the baking show as ITV has recently published an investigation into the practice.
Not all viewers were happy with the editorial choice (Picture: Channel 4)
MPs have now been told that the classes are ‘commodifying cute animals for human gain.’
They claimed that in some cases, puppies as young as six were denied access to water, sleep and worked for hours at a time. Both the RSPCA and The Kennel Club told ITV the classes should be banned after they were presented with the evidence.
In response to the segment, one person wrote: ‘Could they not have edited out the puppy yoga after seeing all the press coverage about this cruel practice? Disappointing.’
‘With puppy yoga being condemned by professionals and investigated it was a poor decision to show the clip of the contestant on Bake Off The Professionals actually promoting this disgraceful practice on the show very poor judgement indeed, what were you thinking?’ added another.
One viewer simply wrote: ‘Oh dear puppy yoga.’
Ellie and Liam are joined by judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden (Picture: Channel 4/Mark Bourdillon)
Elsewhere on the show, some viewers praised Ellie, 39, for her hosting skills.
She has taken over the reins from Stacey Solomon and earned praise for her first episode.
Metro.co.uk reached out to Channel 4 for comment.
Bake Off: The Professionals airs every Tuesday on Channel 4 at 8pm
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