Great British Bake Off launches rainbow cake promo after ‘gendered’ icing backlash last year
Rainbow cakes are at the heart of a new ad campaign by the Great British Bake Off after the show faced backlash last year when it was accused of sexism.
The British show faced criticism in 2016 as the contestants were announced holding bowls of icing that seemingly marked their gender (females held pink icing, while males held blue).
Wraths of viewers accused the former BBC produced show of using the gendered colours unnecessarily.
However, the show has since controversially moved to Channel 4 and the new promo is much more inclusive with its rainbow cake-themed announcement of the contestants.
The contestants were announced on Twitter and the show has been applauded for the diverse mix.
One person wrote: “6 men 6 women. Tick. Cultural diversity. Tick.”
Liam, Stacey, Yan, Steven, Tom, Flo, Kate, Julia, James, Chris, Sophie and Peter will all be competing in the new season.
One female contestant is a lesbian as she says in the opening episode (which has been screened to press): “This is like my wedding day all over again, except my wife isn’t here.”
GBBO fans are anticipating the changes that will be made to the much-loved show since it was announced that Mel & Sue and Mary Berry would not be working on the Channel 4 version.
The hosts have been replaced by Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig.
Cookery writer Prue Leith will replace beloved judge Mary Berry, who bowed out when the show left the BBC. Chef Paul Hollywood is returning.
Sandi Toksvig OBE said “It is an extraordinary honour to part of this national treasure of a show.
“Noel Fielding is one of the nicest guys in show business. The first time I met him I felt like I had met a rather wayward cousin whose take on the world made me laugh.
“The only down side is that he has much better dress sense that I do. I spend my daytimes on Channel 4 already so it will be a treat to be there in the evenings. I am so delighted to be working with Love Productions and Channel 4 on this best of British show.”
Noel Fielding said “GBBO is one of my favourite shows. I’ve always loved brightly coloured cakes and Sandi Toksvig so this is a dream come true for me! It’s basically the double “.
Viewers will be forgiven for thinking that Toksvig is staging a one-woman takeover of popular TV shows, after replacing Stephen Fry as the host of QI last year to much acclaim.
Toskvig, who is married to wife Debbie, is a passionate supporter of LGBT equality and is also the co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party.
