Paul Hollywood has apologised for a “thoughtless” joke he made about diabetes during The Great British Bake Off semi-final.
The presenter was criticised on Twitter for a comment he made about one contestant’s Chelsea buns, saying they looked like “diabetes on a plate”.
Fans complained about the “appalling” and “ignorant” remark, claiming it reinforced false beliefs that diabetes comes from eating too much sugar.
"Will be making a formal complaint to @Channel4 about @PaulHollywood saying “diabetes on a plate” on #GBBO," wrote one viewer. "It’s these comments that I fight everyday as a type 1 diabetic with no prevention and no cure."
After Tuesday night’s episode, Hollywood apologised for the comment in an Instagram post, writing: “A sweet treat, Chelsea buns ... a remark re:- diabetes I made on tonight’s show was thoughtless and I meant no harm, as both my grandad and my own mother suffer/ suffered from diabetes... apologies X.”
Three contestants now remain in the competition, with The Great British Bake Off final airing on Tuesday 29 October at 8pm on Channel 4.
