The world is burning, yet hundreds of people found time to complain about Matt Lucas parodying Boris Johnson on Bake Off
Matt Lucas as Boris Johnson on Bake Off. (Channel 4)
Matt Lucas’ Boris Johnson impression sparked more than 200 Ofcom complaints for the Great British Bake Off.
Lucas, who joined Noel Fielding as co-host on the popular baking contest following Sandi Toksvig’s departure, sparked confusion and laughter Tuesday night (September 15) when he appeared on television screens across the UK as the prime minister.
But not everybody was impressed by the impersonation — 202 people complained to television regulator Ofcom over the parody, according to the Evening Standard.
“We are assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate,” an Ofcom spokesperson said.
Matt Lucas’ Boris Johnson impression came directly after the prime ministers own televised address to the nation.
The comic, wearing a blonde wig and an ill-fitting suit, appeared at a podium that bore the slogan: “Stay alert, protect cakes, save loaves”. He was joined by “special advisors” Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.
“We are now approaching phase 46, which means that from Tuesday morning or Wednesday evening depending on your height, we are saying with regards to baking, if you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent, but please don’t bake in a tent,” Lucas said, parodying the British government’s much-maligned coronavirus advice.
Matt Lucas has been skewering Boris Johnson throughout the pandemic.
This is not the first time Lucas has lampooned the prime minister – in May, he sent up Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a video posted to Twitter.
“So we are saying don’t go to work, go to work, don’t take public transport, go to work, don’t go to work, stay indoors,” Lucas said in the clip, imitating Johnson’s accent.
“If you can work from home go to work, don’t go to work, go outside, don’t go outside, and then we will or won’t… something or other.”
The Great British Bake Off returned to television screens later than usual this year following production delays as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The series was able to go ahead without social distancing after the 12 contestants moved into a bio-secure bubble along with Lucas and co-host Noel Fielding, judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, along with 100 crew members.
