Paul Hollywood Eats Japan viewers brand the show ‘cringeworthy’ and ‘racist’

Paul Hollywood Eats Japan viewers branded the show ‘racist’ and ‘cringeworthy’ after the baker expressed surprise that the Japanese eat bread, and gave a Michelin-starred chef a Pot Noodle. 

In last night’s episode of the Channel 4 show, the Great British Bake Off judge, 54, began his culinary and cultural road trip across Japan in Tokyo, but it wasn’t long before viewers took to Twitter to express their horror at a few of his remarks. 

‘Why is Paul Hollywood presenting a programme called Paul Hollywood Eats Japan if he can’t use chopsticks, knows no Japanese etiquette and says things like “Japan makes me nervous because it’s all rice and noodles isn’t it??” wrote one, while a second penned: 

‘So disappointed, before you travel, stop understand cultural differences and learn some respect and stop saying inappropriate racial slurs.’

In the opening scenes, Paul Hollywood acted surprised to hear the Japanese eat bread, despite revealing he had previously rejected an offer to be a baker’s apprentice in the country.

He said: ‘I’ve never been to Japan before. I mean why would I? I’m a baker. It’s all about rice and noodles, isn’t it?

Expressing their outrage at the comment, one viewer wrote: ‘And I was right about #paulhollywoodeatsjapan “I thought all Japan had was rice and noodles”. Yes Paul, Japan is more than just rice and noodles….Probably the most ignorant show on Japan that I’ve ever watched!!!’

A second sarcastically penned: ‘They have bread in Japan, bread? But I thought it was just rice and noodles. Bread?! But we make bread in England, this is Japan, I didn’t think they had bread. And it’s good bread! Bread, in Japan of all places!’

A third added: ‘Paul Hollywood said “When I was a trainee baker, they advertised for jobs in Japan but I didn’t apply because I didn’t think they ate bread.” Why would they advertise for bakers if they didn’t eat bread? What did he think the job involved? #stereotypes.’ 

He then popped into Michelin-starred Nakiryu, where he was welcomed by owner and chef Saito, before being handed a bowl of ramen. 

‘Think of it as a posh Pot Noodle,’ the professional baker told viewers.

After Saito showed his creation of a ramen noodle bowl that people can make in the comfort of their own homes, the baker then handed him a chicken and mushroom Pot Noodle to try. 

‘I’d never buy one of these,’ laughed professional chef,  Saito.

And while some suggested it was just a bit of lighthearted fun, others who tuned in were left cringing at the bizarre scenes. 

‘Surely if you had no idea about Japanese food and culture you’d at least do some research before you go? This is so bad,’ wrote one, while a second commented: ‘What a s*** show. He’s made us Brits look like tw*ts with his ignorance.’

A further commented: ‘This is #paulhollywoodeatsjapan program is very condescending,’ while a fourth added: ‘Whyyyy is Paul Hollywood making a Michelin starred noodle chef in Japan eat a pot noodle cringe.’