GREAT British Bake Off fans were left raging with judge Prue Leith who have dubbed her comments about calories as “toxic” and “harmful” following Wednesday night’s episode.
During the first challenge on Channel 4’s flagship show, Prue expressed her delight when sampling Amanda Georgiou’s German-inspired biscuits, saying it was an “astonishingly good biscuit”.
“The biscuit is very short and buttery and delicious,” said the decorated chef.
“The jam is sensational, I mean it really is – worth every calorie.”
However, the pastry critiques’ comments did not go down well with some.
Several fans of the show immediately took to Twitter to slam Prue’s use of the phrase “worth every calorie” – something she has said before on a number of occasions on the series.
Some explained that her comments feed into “diet culture”, while others highlighted how phrases such as that can impact people who have been affected by eating disorders.
One person fumed: “Prue, again, saying ‘it was worth every calorie’ really grinds on me.”
Someone else ranted: “It’s not funny, it’s rooted in diet culture and it’s everything that is wrong with our modern food, weight-obsessed, body image culture. Really unnecessary.”
More waged war on the British-South African presenter, affirming that there’s no need to discuss calories on a baking show – especially when the focus should be on the taste and looks of the bakes.
Another fan remarked: “I wish Prue would stop talking about how fattening or ‘worth the calories’ bakes are.”
Echoing their statements, a viewer added: “If I hear Prue say ‘worth the calories’ during Bake Off one more time, I will simply scream.”
The Celeb Report has approached Prue Leith’s representatives and Channel 4 for comment.
Prue’s calories comment wasn’t the only aspect of Wednesday night’s episode that peeved viewers, with some frustrated that Freya Cox was sent home – despite George Aristidou serving the judges raw dough in a challenge.
The Great British Bake Off returns next Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.
