Bake Off sparks backlash over ‘harmful message’ as charity demands apology over ‘concerning’ conversation

The Great British Bake Off has sparked backlash over ‘harmful’ comments made during a spin-off show last week, having been accused by a charity of ‘trivialising’ an important topic.

Episode three marked Bread Week, with contestants challenged with a signature bake of 12 savoury buns, a seven-strand plaited wreath technical and a showstopper cornucopia display.

While the latest episode was decidedly less dramatic than its predecessor, it wasn’t without controversy.

On An Extra Slice, the Friday evening companion programme to the main show, presenters Tom Allen and Jo Brand discussed the ups and downs of Bread Week with guests Jonathan Ross, Ravneet Gill and Josh Pugh.

Ross kicked off the carb love-in by saying: “I’ve never met a loaf I didn’t love.”

Comedian Pugh also said he’d ‘never met anyone who didn’t like bread’, while chef Gill said she was also a big fan.

“Well I love bread, but my Mum’s coeliac so she shouldn’t eat bread.

“But she still loves it, she still eats it.”

Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten, in turn damaging your small intestine.

Of course, bread famously includes gluten, unless made with gluten free ingredients.

After Gill’s remark, Brand joked: “Good for her.”

Ravneet Gill (Channel 4)

Ross then added: “And good for whoever cleans up after her.”

After the episode aired, Coeliac UK issued an open letter to the producers of the show, saying the comments featured on the show ‘trivialise coeliac disease and send a harmful message to the public’.

“Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition where the ingestion of gluten triggers an immune response that damages the gut lining, leading to nutrient malabsorption and a host of potential health complications,” the letter, which was signed by chief executive officer Hilary Croft, said.

“Even the smallest crumb of gluten can cause severe symptoms, including debilitating pain, prolonged suffering and even recurrent miscarriage, as long-term health risks such as osteoporosis and, in rare cases, small bowel cancer.

“It is crucial to emphasis that coeliac disease is not a food preference or an allergy; it is a serious medical condition that requires lifelong adherence to a strict gluten free diet.”

The show was accused of 'trivialising' the condition (Channel 4)

The charity continued: “We are particularly disheartened by Ravneet Gill’s comments given her previous role as a judge on the Junior Bake Off, where she displayed compassion for those that have been diagnosed with coeliac disease. The remarks made during An Extra Slice perpetuate a narrative that dismisses the severity of this condition.

“They suggest that individuals with coeliac disease should compromise their health for the sake of enjoyment, which undermines the very real challenges they face and ultimately puts their health at risk.”

Coeliac UK added that ‘the laughter in response’ also ‘trivialises’ the reality of the 1 in 100 people in the UK affected by the condition, saying: "It is critical that media representations acknowledge the seriousness of coeliac disease and the physical and mental health implications of adhering to a gluten free diet.

“Discussions around gluten free diet should promote accurate understanding, respect, and accommodation for dietary needs rather than downplaying their significance.”

Tyla has reached out to Channel 4 and Ravneet Gill for comment.