Saturday Kitchen took an unexpected turn during its closing segment this weekend when comedian James Acaster erupted in a staged meltdown, dramatically dismantling parts of the studio set.
Appearing alongside his Off Menu co-host Ed Gamble to promote their upcoming live shows at the Royal Albert Hall, Acaster’s theatrical tantrum polarized viewers. The show’s traditional finale involved the audience choosing between two culinary options: Ed’s tapas selection or James’s unconventional Panettone-Christmas pudding fusion.
Ed’s tapas won the public vote with 54 percent, prompting Acaster to break into a loud “Nooo!” He then overturned the festive wreath, punched a stuffed polar bear, and wrestled with a Christmas tree, scattering ornaments across the studio floor.
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Host Matt Tebbutt, along with chefs Andi Oliver, Tasha Marikkar, Ben Lippett, and sommelier Helen McGinn, appeared amused by the dramatic antics. However, many viewers expressed outrage on social media. Some called Acaster’s behaviour “disgraceful” and “childish,” urging the BBC to issue an apology and suggesting the guest should be banned from future appearances.
One viewer wrote, “Matt & the BBC should give an apology next week for the disgraceful behaviour on today’s show.” Others said, “What utterly disgraceful behaviour from James Acaster on Saturday Kitchen,” and “Producers should have taken the show off air when the guest acted so badly.”
Conversely, many fans defended Acaster, recognizing the meltdown as comedic and well-executed performance art. Supporters described it as “the televisual highlight of 2025” and praised the humour, saying, “If people can’t tell James was play acting, it’s a shame.” Another added, “That’s the best Saturday Kitchen I’ve seen. I’m with James on this one. Tiramisu all day long!”
The incident has sparked a lively debate: was James Acaster’s meltdown a cringe-worthy breakdown or a brilliant comedic performance?
Saturday Kitchen airs Saturdays at 10am on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.