The representation of non-English cultures and recipes on “The Great British Baking Show” has been questioned by both viewers and former contestants.
Some have called for a more diverse set of judges and hosts, improved execution of themed challenges and dishes, and greater accountability from the show’s producers.
Several candidates who have encountered the diversity difficulties directly told Insider that it’s time for the program to own up to its mistakes and make adjustments for the future.
Rav Bansal competed on season seven of “Bake Off,” however neither the judges nor the hosts acknowledge his participation.
Channel 4
Season seven baker Rav Bansal told Insider that new judges are needed to properly represent the varied group of candidates competing on “The Great British Bake Off”
Throughout “The Great British Baking Show’s” eleven seasons, there has never been a host or judge of color.
Bansal told Insider, “I believe it’s time for new judges.” I would like to see the same diversity reflected in the judges and hosts of the event.
According to two competitors who spoke with Insider, the absence of diverse hosts and judges has led to some uncomfortable situations
Bansal told Insider that the judges’ ability to evaluate non-English flavors and cuisines is hindered by their lack of diversity.
Certain flavors and techniques are not as widespread as others, and they are frequently lost in translation, according to Bansal.
The baker recalled Paul Hollywood “not understanding what a yuzu was” when one of Bansal’s cake recipes called for yuzu. Yuzu is an East Asian citrus fruit that is mostly cultivated in Japan, Korea, and China.
During the ninth season, fans on Twitter criticized out multiple participants, hosts, and judges, including Antony Amourdoux, for wrongly referring to naan as “naan bread,” which translates to “bread bread” during a technical challenge.
Many “Bake Off” viewers were perplexed as to how the Indian baker could have made such an error, given the widespread popularity of the dish. However, Amourdoux explained throughout the program that he is “not from the region that creates naans,” and he revealed to Insider that he faced additional awkward moments behind the scenes.
“It was truly terrible. Sandi [Toksvig] — who was the host at the time — came out and said, “You’re going to crush the next challenge,” and I was absolutely last in line “Amourdoux recounted. “No naan is available in the south. I cannot for the life of me recall my mother ever preparing naan.”
“I recall Prue Leith telling me that if my mother watched the show, she would be insulted to see me on television,” he told Insider. “However, there is no naan in the south!”
Sandi Toksvig and Prue Leith did not immediately react to Insider’s request for comment on Amourdoux’s recollections.
Another contestant stated that the production staff, not individual bakers, is to responsible for several of the show’s non-English recipe blunders.
During Japanese week, one baker created panda-themed rolls.
Channel 4
Ali Imdad of Season 4 told Insider that the production personnel, and not usually the individual participants, are to blame for cultural misunderstandings on the show.
He was particularly astonished by how the eleventh season of 2020 handled its Japanese-themed week.
“I am not very sensitive since I recognize that not everyone will be familiar with other cultures. I understand, “he said. “However, when half of the contestants said, ‘It’s not really Japanese, it’s Chinese,’ and one of them made panda buns, I thought, ‘That has nothing to do with Japan.'”
Imdad continued, “I don’t blame the contestants for that.” “I simply thought it was a little strange that the production company could say, ‘This is okay.'”
Imdad noted that the bakers must have their recipes authorized before to the episode’s filming, so there was time to address these difficulties before the challenges began.
“Before ever discussing filming, the participants’ recipes would have been sent to the production firm for approval,” Imdad explained. “I don’t understand why they would give the concept of Japan and then approve the Chinese-themed content that was submitted. Nobody will observe. What is the distinction?'”
The production staff, he argued, was “sloppy” for allowing this oversight.
The thirteenth season’s “Mexican Week” also infuriated fans, who called out hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas for making racist comments.
Twitter users also pointed out that the taco technological challenge had little to do with baking, and that the show might have done more study on authentic culture bakes, such as Mexican wedding pastries.
Despite its flaws, some bakers praised the program for moving beyond traditional British dishes.
As a technical challenge, the season nine bakers made Ma’amoul.
Channel 4
Although bakers believe the series has a long way to go in terms of showcasing non-English cuisines, some welcome the show’s efforts to broaden its scope.
In 2020, Japanese pastry expert Tomoko Kato told Insider’s Debanjali Bose that the matcha-crêpe-cake technical challenge was rather appropriate for Japan-themed baking, despite “Japanese Week’s” shortcomings.
Kato stated, “French patisseries are extremely prevalent in Japan.” “It is common to see Japanese chefs learning overseas and bringing their experiences back to Japan,”
Over the years, the show has also featured international foods such as Hungarian Dobos tortes, German schichttorte cakes, Cypriot flaouna pastries, and Spanish churros.
Insider quoted Amourdoux as saying, “There’s a great deal of work that goes into recruiting a diverse group of bakers, and food makers go out of their way to examine baked goods from around the world.” Middle Eastern Ma’amoul is something I recall from my senior year.
Amourdoux told Insider that these non-English bakes made the show “very cool” for international viewers.
“It’s not only British baked goods,” he remarked. “You must have some flavor and culture. This is what keeps it interesting year after year.”
The Great British Baking Show representatives did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Follow our series of interviews to find out what else the former bakers disclosed to Insider.