Comedian James Acaster has been branded "pathetic", "disgraceful", and a "brat" by irked Saturday Kitchen viewers after he caused mayhem on the show.
The 40-year-old launched into a theatrical rampage after the public voted against his preferred dish during its regular Food Heaven or Food Hell segment.
The stand-up comic appeared alongside fellow comic Ed Gamble on the long-running cookery programme, where viewers traditionally decide whether guests receive their preferred dish or not.
Mr Gamble had selected a trio of tapas as his Food Heaven, whilst Mr Acaster opted for his unconventional festive dessert combination.
BBC Saturday Kitchen: James Acaster sparked a frenzy on the show
|BBC
When the results came in, 54 per cent had backed Mr Gamble's tapas selection over Mr Acaster's panettone tiramisu-Christmas pudding creation.
The outcome sent Mr Acaster into an immediate frenzy, with the comedian proceeding to wreak havoc across the studio set in the programme's closing moments.
Screaming "Nooo!" in response to the vote, Mr Acaster immediately overturned a Christmas wreath that had been positioned on the guests' table.
The comedian then turned his attention to a stuffed polar bear, delivering a punch to the festive decoration.
BBC Saturday Kitchen: James Acaster punched a polar bear figure and destroyed a Christmas tree
|BBC
James Acaster's live meltdown. You're welcome. #SaturdayKitchen pic.twitter.com/tzwCX6qCHt
— Paul Burley (@PaulBurleyFFS) December 6, 2025
His over-the-top rampage continued as he grappled with a nearby Christmas tree, sending baubles and ornaments crashing onto the studio floor.
The destruction unfolded in the final minutes of the live broadcast, leaving the set in complete disarray.
Presenter Matt Tebbutt and the other guests on the programme, including chefs Andi Oliver, Tasha Marikkar and Ben Lippett, along with sommelier Helen McGinn, appeared to find the theatrical outburst amusing.
Mr Tebbutt even quipped that Mr Acaster's behaviour had "taken the heat" off him as everyone's attention was solely on the comedian.
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BBC Saturday Kitchen: James Acaster's co-star could do little but laugh
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Mr Acaster eventually took to his seat as the rest of his co-stars chuckled before Mr Tebbutt got to work rustling up Mr Gamble's Food Heaven.
While those in the Saturday Kitchen studio may have found Mr Acaster's theatrics amusing, it's safe to say BBC viewers at home weren't unanimously in agreement.
In fact, within minutes of the outburst, the comedian's name began trending on the social media platform X, with several viewers keen to make their feelings known.
One irked viewer posted: "@SaturdayKitchen Unbelievable atrocious behaviour by James Acaster on today’s programme, nothing remotely funny about destroying the table setting and other Christmas decorations, worse than a petulant 2 year old."
BBC Saturday Kitchen: James Acaster and Ed Gamble
|BBC
Elsewhere, a second echoed: "James Acaster on #SaturdayKitchenlive is trying very hard to be funny, unfortunately for him, he never will be, in my opinion. He’s made himself look an even bigger t**t than usual - do the people who find him funny think Nish Kumar is too, I wonder? It’s all about opinion."
"What have I just witnessed on Saturday Kitchen Live @BBC absolutely shocking behaviour James Acaster," a third complained, while a fourth concurred: "Call me a Grinch, but I just don't find James Acaster's behaviour funny in the slightest. #SaturdayKitchenlive."
"#SaturdayKitchen Pathetic unfunny t**t James acaster... total k**b," another weighed in, before a sixth added: "I really don’t know how people find James Acaster funny. I was thinking he was behaving like a brat, then Matt said similar. #SaturdayKitchen."
A seventh commented: "What on earth did I just witness on #SaturdayKitchenlive. James Acaster destroying the set was not funny at all. Why have this person on there?" (sic)
BBC Saturday Kitchen: James Acaster sparked anger among many
|BBC
And another similarly voiced: "What utterly disgraceful behaviour on @SaturdayKitchen from James Acaster."
However, it wasn't all negativity facing Mr Acaster following his antics. "I love when James Acaster is on telly and all the most humourless f***s in the world kick off because they don't get it, and I expect he only gets more powerful," one fan argued against the backlash.
A second similarly put: "James Acaster punching a stuffed Polar Bear in the face has to be a TV highlight of 2025. #SaturdayKitchenlive."
And a third went as far as to claim: "James Acaster's reaction to tapas on #SaturdayKitchen is the televisual highlight of 2025." (sic)