BBC make embarrassing Bake Off U-turn after causing sexism storm over pink and blue icing
Thousands of fans complained about the Beeb’s ‘gender stereotyping’
GREAT British Bake Off bosses have been forced into an embarrassing U-turn after sparking a sexism row a week before the show even starts.
The cuddly cake contest released promo shots of this year’s desserty dozen whisking up batter — with female contestants getting pink ingredients and the men blue.
They were used by the normally overtly PC programme to introduce its new “batter week challenge”.
But after thousands of fans complained about the BBC’s “sexism” and “gender stereotyping”, GBBO chiefs released new digitally enhanced photos with the icing in different colours.
Outraged viewer Becki Anne had tweeted: “Do we need to perpetuate the stereotype further with pink and blue icing for gender?! Come on Bake off. You’re better than that!”
Furious Emma Borrow wrote: “Grow up Bake Off, Really poor choice for your advertising campaign.”
And @incognitoLinda added: “Why have contestants got pink or blue icing depending on their reproductive organs? #EverdaySexism.”
Following the backlash, the BBC One Twitter account re-released the images, but with the icing changed to colours including purple, green and yellow.
Fans will also be shocked to discover that more than half of the “amateur bakers” hoping to impress judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood when the show returns next Wednesday look ready to turn professional.
Whilst not having any professional baking qualifications or deriving their main income from baking, many have websites, blogs and slick social media accounts, showing off their dazzling creations.
Jane Beedle’s granddad owned a bakery and the 61-year-old garden designer has set up a professional-looking Instagram account displaying her advanced baking skills.
University student Michael Georgiou is only 20 years old but he already has a website called N14 Bakery.
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Selasi Gbormittah, 30, has Facebook project Baker’s Thumb which shows him posing with Bake Off judges Mary and Paul’s books.
And education worker Tom Gilliford, 26, has set up a Bakerspaces movement to encourage creative cooking without recipes.
