Bake Off star slammed for ‘trivialising’ serious health condition with ‘offensive’ comments
GREAT British Bake Off star Ravneet Gill has issued an apology after making “harmful” comments on spinoff show An Extra Slice.
The chef and author, 33, appeared on the Channel 4 programme alongside host Jo Brand and guests Jonathan Ross and Josh Pugh on October 10.
While discussing the Bread Week challenges, Gill told the panel: “Well, I love bread, but my mum’s coeliac so she shouldn’t eat bread, but she still loves it, she still eats it.”
Her remarks were criticised by the Coeliac UK, and hundreds of viewers with the autoimmune condition, which requires a strict gluten free diet and affects one in 100 people.
In an open letter to the Bake Off producers, charity CEO Hilary Croft said Gill had “trivialised” coeliac disease, which can lead to severe pain, recurrent miscarriage and even bowel cancer if not properly managed, and “sent a harmful message to the public”.
In response, the Junior Bake Off judge said on Instagram: “I want to make it really clear that my intention was not in any way to cause any misinformation about the severity of coeliac disease or to downplay it at all.
“For that, I hold my hands up and that was really never my intention.”
She added: “For those of you that don’t know me, I thought I’d provide a bit of context to my work and what I do.
“When I was in my 20s, I worked in London’s first gluten-free restaurant, long before platforms like YouTube and Instagram were as big, and I spent a lot of time educating myself.
“I also have spent the last year writing a lot more gluten free recipes for the community, and that’s because I get asked about them a lot.
“I just want to circle back and let you know that I didn’t intend for those comments to cause harm, and the fact that they did really upset me, and I’m sorry about that.”
She insisted that her mum isn’t upset, and that “in a fast-moving panel show, sometimes it’s hard and you can’t get your words out, and I should have provided more context”.
Brand saw the funny side, saying of Gill’s mum: “Good for her.”
“And good for whoever cleans up after her,” Ross joked, followed by laughter from the studio audience.
Croft “expressed concern” over the interaction, as did several influencers and hundreds of social media users.
One person wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Her comments were ridiculous.
“Eating gluten when you have coeliac disease is extremely damaging and you should not be encouraging this.”
While another said: “It was unbelievable. Ravneet is a Junior Bake Off judge!
“I can’t believe how ill-informed she is and how coeliac disease was trivialised.”
And gluten free blogger Becky Excell said: “This is so frustrating when we are all working so hard to raise awareness of coeliac disease in the right ways, and especially with it not being too far from the festive season when we really need everyone to understand more than ever.
“It’s especially frustrating when a programme isn’t even live as itcould have been stopped from being aired.
“Following a gluten free diet isn’t for fun or enjoyment, it’s not a choice.”
In a public letter to the producers of An Extra Slice, Croft said: “We are writing to you as Coeliac UK, the national charity representing the interests of people living with coeliac disease.
“We would like to express our concern regarding the comments made by Ravneet Gill during the latest episode of An Extra Slice (series 15, episode 3), which aired on October 10 at 8pm.
“During the show, Gill made light of coeliac disease when discussing her mother’s condition.
“The comments [made by Gill, Brand and Ross] trivialise coeliac disease and send a harmful message to the public.
“Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition where the ingestion of gluten triggers an immune response that damages the gut lining, leading to nutrient malabsorption and a host of potential health complications.
“Even the smallest crumb of gluten can cause severe symptoms, including debilitating pain, prolonged suffering and even recurrent miscarriage, as well as long-term health risks such as osteoporosis and, in rare cases, small bowel cancer.
My view, as someone with coeliac disease
By Alice Fuller, Senior Health Reporter
WE all know that Ravneet Gill, Jo Brand and Jonathan Ross were joking.
And it was funny, as eating gluten when you have coeliac disease really can make a mess!
But while I can laugh, it is also incredibly disappointing.
As someone with the condition, I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when people just don’t get it.
I have my own toaster, butter and jam, I use a separate chopping board, and I avoid anything labelled ‘may contain gluten’ or ‘made in a factory that handles gluten’.
I also have to do extensive research when going out for dinner and I always carry a cereal bar in my bag in case I can’t find anywhere safe to eat.
It’s a nightmare, and when people make light of eating bread when it could make you seriously ill, it only adds to the misunderstanding.
Coeliac disease is serious, and it needs to be taken seriously.
“It is crucial to emphasise that coeliac disease is not a food preference or an allergy; it is a serious medical condition that requires lifelong adherence to a strict gluten free diet.
“We are particularly disheartened by Gill’s comments given her previous role as a judge on the Junior Bake Off, where she displayed compassion for those that have been diagnosed.
“The remarks made during An Extra Slice perpetuate a narrative that dismisses the severity of this condition.
“They suggest that individuals with coeliac disease and the physical and mental health implications of adhering to a gluten free diet.
I want to make it really clear that my intention was not in any way to to downplay coeliac disease at all
Ravneet Gill
“Discussions around gluten free diets should promote accurate understanding, respect, and accommodation for dietary needs rather than downplaying their significance.
“We are hopeful that this incident will encourage your team to engage in respectful conversations regarding coeliac disease and its impact on individuals and families.
“We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further and provide accurate information about coeliac disease to ensure a more informed dialogue in future broadcasts.
“We kind request that you consider issuing an apology to people with coeliac disease on air to address the dismissive and inaccurate portrayal of coeliac disease presented in your programme.
“Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response.”
Gill said she will try to “think more carefully” before speaking on TV again.
Channel 4 has been approached for comment.
Vanessa Feltz faced similar backlash after comments she made on This Morning last year.
More than 2,000 complaints were made to Ofcom after saying a caller’s mother-in-law not allowing them to bring their own food to a gluten free Christmas dinner was “completely unreasonable”.
“She’s treating coeliac disease as if it’s a potentially fatal peanut allergy and they can’t have anything with gluten in the house,” Feltz added.
The 61-year-old later apologised on her TalkTV show, saying she was “very sorry”.
What is coeliac disease and what are the main symptoms?
COELIAC disease is an autoimmune condition that affects one in 100 people in the UK - though many remain undiagnosed.
When someone who has it eats gluten, their immune system attacks their own tissues, which damages their gut.
The symptoms vary from person to person and can range from very mild to severe.
But the most common signs include:
- Severe or occasional diarrhoea, excessive wind and/or constipation
- Persistent or unexplained nausea and vomiting
- Recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating
- Any combination of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency
- Anaemia
- Tiredness
- Sudden or unexpected weight loss
- Mouth ulcers
- Skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
- Tooth enamel problems
- Liver abnormalities
- Unexplained subfertility
- Repeated miscarriages
- Neurological (nerve) problems such as ataxia (loss of coordination, poor balance) and peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet)
There is no cure. The only way to manage coeliac disease is with a strict gluten free diet.
This means eating no wheat, rye, barley and oats.
Potential long-term complications include osteoporosis, iron deficiency anaemia, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia, bowel cancer and fertility issues.
Source: Coeliac UK and NHS