The BBC is formally considering a wave of viewer complaints after comedian James Acaster staged a memorable, chaotic meltdown during a live broadcast of Saturday Kitchen.
Chaos Erupts Over a Food Vote
The incident occurred earlier in December 2025, when Acaster appeared on the weekend cookery show with his Off Menu podcast co-host, Ed Gamble. The pair were involved in a light-hearted segment where viewers voted on a culinary choice: tapas versus tiramisu.
When the results were announced, revealing Acaster had lost by a significant 46% margin, the comedian's reaction was immediate and explosive. He screamed, leapt from his chair, and proceeded to unleash his frustration on the festive set.
The Path of Destruction and Viewer Backlash
Acaster first flipped a wreath on the table, then punched a decorative polar bear prop behind him. Not finished, he then turned his attention to the studio's Christmas tree as host Matt Tebbutt and other guests dissolved into laughter.
While many on social media hailed the moment as "the televisual highlight of 2025," a substantial number of viewers were not amused. According to reports, the BBC was hit with 232 official complaints categorised under 'inappropriate behaviour of a guest'. The volume of complaints has triggered a potential formal investigation by the broadcaster.
On-Air Apology and Polar Bear's Fate
In the show's following episode, host Matt Tebbutt addressed the controversy directly. "We just want to say on behalf of the whole team and guests on last week's show, thank you to all the viewers who commented about the end of the show's shenanigans," he stated.
Tebbutt emphasised the live and spontaneous nature of the programme, especially with comedian guests, and sought to reassure concerned viewers. "Absolutely nobody here was offended as you can see, Paul the polar bear is fine and not a bauble was broken," he concluded.
This is not the first time Acaster has had a public meltdown on BBC programming. In 2019, he suffered a similar episode on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up 2 Cancer while attempting to make flapjacks, later attributing it to severe jet lag.
The BBC must now decide on the outcome of the complaints, balancing the show's reputation for light-hearted entertainment with audience standards.
