Saturday Kitchen ended on a dramatic note this weekend as comedian James Acaster unleashed a theatrical meltdown that left the studio in disarray.
Appearing alongside his Off Menu co-host Ed Gamble to promote their upcoming Royal Albert Hall shows, Acaster brought his signature humor to the BBC One cooking programme. Tradition dictates that viewers vote between two dishes for the guests to sample, and this time the choice was between Ed’s tapas selection and James’s unique Panettone-Christmas pudding fusion.
Ed’s tapas won with 54 percent of the public vote, triggering a lively reaction from Acaster. In a highly theatrical display, he shouted “Nooo!”, overturned a festive wreath, struck a stuffed polar bear, and wrestled with a Christmas tree, sending ornaments scattering across the kitchen set.
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While presenter Matt Tebbutt and other guests, including chefs Andi Oliver, Tasha Marikkar, Ben Lippett, and sommelier Helen McGinn, laughed along with the funny outburst, viewers at home were divided.
Some condemned Acaster’s antics as “disgraceful” and “childish,” urging the BBC to apologise for the chaotic scene. Comments on social media included calls to remove the guest from future appearances and criticism of the show’s handling of the incident.
However, many fans praised Acaster’s performance as pure comedic gold. Supporters argued that the meltdown was an expertly crafted piece of entertainment, highlighting his expressive reaction as a highlight of Saturday Kitchen’s recent broadcasts.
Ultimately, the debate remains: was James Acaster’s meltdown an awkward misstep or a comedic triumph?
Saturday Kitchen continues to air Saturdays at 10am on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.