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Saturday Kitchen Viewers have hit back at critics of the show's Pride-themed episode, which aired on Saturday (June 1).
The hit BBC cookery show, hosted by Matt Tebbutt, celebrated Pride Month with a Pride Party to celebrate and honour the LGBTQ+ community with “vibrant, inclusive special programming and lots of delicious food”.
However, some viewers took issue with the show's theme, saying “this is not a documentary” and accusing it of “promoting a political ideology.”
The episode features stand-up comedians Sarah Keyworth and Strictly Come Dancing Star Leighton Williams was defended by fans, reiterating: “Just look at the comments to see why we need pride!”
Despite some backlash, many celebrated the event as a “joyful event.”
“As a 63 year old straight woman all I can say is that today's #SaturdayKitchen was the absolute best fun,” one person wrote.
Another person praised the show's creators for going beyond “virtue signaling” by sharing information and education about historically marginalized groups.
“I've never cried watching a cooking show before,” one viewer said, “but kudos to @SaturdayKitchen for not only making a moral statement with their Pride Month edition, but also educating. I wish LGBT+ kids in the 1970s and 1980s had a similar show to watch.”
But that wasn't enough for those who claimed the show had been “ruined”. “You're a cookery show. Stick to your own path and resist the BBC's endless 'woke' mantra,” said one, while another added: “Saturday Kitchen “Awakened”.
Viewers slammed critics as “homophobic” and defended the theme.
“I'm not homophobic, but I want it to be about cooking good food, not about being accepted by society because I'm queer,” another replied.
“Why don't all you bigots just listen and put down your keyboards,” wrote another X/Twitter supporter. “LGBTQ people are real people. Or just go outside and buy a Stella and sit in your garden for the next 90 minutes.”
Viewers also condemned the reaction as unnecessary panic, with one person calculating: “Only 1 of @SaturdayKitchen's 52 shows features Pride – less than 2%. Lots of people here are genuinely angry. Just proves why we still need Pride.”
Episodes of Saturday Kitchen's Pride are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
