A live television broadcast descended into chaotic farce this weekend, as comedian James Acaster unleashed a spectacular meltdown on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen, instantly catapulting the segment into contention for 2025's most memorable TV moment.
The Tapas vs. Tiramisu Tussle That Sparked Chaos
The incident occurred on December 6, 2025, during the show's regular viewer vote segment. Host Matt Tebbutt presented a twist: instead of the usual 'heaven vs. hell' choice, the audience had to pick between two 'heavenly' dishes selected by guests Ed Gamble and James Acaster. Gamble championed a tapas selection, while Acaster put forward a Panettone tiramisu.
When the results were announced, revealing Acaster had lost by a decisive 46% margin, the comedian's reaction was immediate and visceral. He let out a primal scream of frustration before physically attacking the festive set decor.
Climbing from his chair, Acaster first flipped a wreath off the table, then punched a decorative polar bear prop behind him. His rampage culminated in an assault on the studio's Christmas tree, all while fellow guest Ed Gamble cackled with laughter and host Tebbutt looked on in amused disbelief.
Viewers Divided: Comic Genius or 'Atrocious Behaviour'?
The aftermath saw social media platform X flooded with reactions, sharply divided between those who found the spectacle hilarious and others who deemed it wholly inappropriate.
Many hailed it as instant television history. One user, cddevereaux, declared it "a late entrant to TV moment of the year," a sentiment echoed by ryanw_film who called it the "TV moment of the year by far." PaulBurleyFFS simply labelled it "the televisual highlight of 2025."
However, a significant portion of the audience was less impressed. Viewer Irisfurnham criticised "atrocious behaviour," comparing Acaster unfavourably to a toddler. Anita_sharma called for the comedian to be banned from the show, citing "really uncomfortable viewing." The polarised response was summarised by milesarchives13, who questioned why some reactions were as if "he just killed someone’s mum in front of them."
A History of Food-Related Breakdowns
This is not the first time James Acaster has suffered a very public culinary collapse. He is perhaps even better known for his infamous 2019 appearance on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up 2 Cancer.
During that challenge, his attempt at cherry Bakewell flapjacks resulted in a gooey puddle, leading to his now-iconic, meme-worthy line to judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith: "Started making it, had a breakdown, bon appetit."
Acaster later revealed a key difference between the two incidents. While the Saturday Kitchen outburst was clearly performed for comedic effect, his Bake Off meltdown was genuine. In his 2024 stand-up show, Hecklers Welcome, he explained he was suffering from severe 36-hour jet lag during filming.
Reflecting on his low stress threshold in an interview with RadioTimes, Acaster joked about never appearing on shows like Strictly Come Dancing, stating: "I had a full-on meltdown during one day of Bake Off... I wouldn’t even get that far. I’d have quit before it was broadcast."
The segment has ensured that Saturday Kitchen, which airs weekly at 10am on BBC One, will be remembered for far more than its culinary recipes this year, securing a bizarre and controversial place in the annals of live British television.
