Some people love a Hobnob dunked in a mug of hot tea, while others prefer the zingy jelly of a Jaffa Cake as an afternoon treat, but which biscuit is truly the nation’s favourite?
A nationwide vote of viewers by Channel 5 has now put years of family arguments to rest, by revealing that our perfect accompaniment to a cuppa is, in fact, the humble chocolate Digestive.
According to the celebrity-packed show Britain’s Favourite Biscuit, we munch on more than 70 million of the treats every year in the UK – an average of 52 biscuits per second.
The Digestive saw off stiff competition from chocolate Hobnobs, which came second, while Jammie Dodgers and Custard Crèmes were third and fourth respectively.
The furious debate on the show also saw the resurgence of another age-old argument – whether the chocolate layer of a Digestive is the top, or the bottom of the biscuit.
The nation has spoken – the chocolate digestive biscuit has topped a poll to be named Britain’s favourite
Former Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson was thrilled that the chocolate digestive was announced as Britain’s favourite
In the programme celebrities like Joe Swash were joined by fellow biscuit fans including Vanessa Feltz, Sally Lindsay and the actress Natalie Anderson to munch their way through the contenders and give their opinion on the snack that should secure the number one spot.
Ex-Emmerdale actress Natalie jumped for joy at the victory of the chocolate Digestive, which was first launched by McVitie’s in 1925, saying on the show: ‘Yes! I am so chuffed about this.’
And former Coronation Street star Sally firmly agreed: ‘If someone said to me “right you’re allowed to save one biscuit for the post-apocalypse”, the chocolate Digestive is the biscuit you would have.’
After the rankings were announced – with major players like the Kit Kat, Rich Tea and Chocolate Finger all missing out on a place in the top ten – another debate raged on between the celebrities.
The old question of whether the chocolate is on the top or the bottom of the chocolate digestive raised its head again.
Biscuit brand McVitie’s cleared up the argument in 2014 – confirming that the chocolate is on the bottom of the Digestive – but not all of the celebrities agreed.
Joe argued that if the chocolate was on the bottom, if you placed it the ‘correct’ way on a table surface it would melt everywhere.
TV presenter Vanessa fumed it was always chocolate on top, saying: ‘Anyone who wants to argue the toss has got me to contend with.’
TV presenter Vanessa Feltz would not accept the news that the chocolate sits on the bottom of the biscuit
Celebrity biscuit fan Joe Swash was happy with the number one spot but thinks the chocolate is on the top and not the bottom
A biscuit factory manager explained in the programme that the biscuits are fed into a machine with the branded side facing up, and the bottom facing down, to go through a ‘chocolate reservoir’.
Elsewhere, the Ginger Nut was named as the favourite for dunking in a hot drink, with Rich Tea and the Digestive as runners up.
Britain’s Favourite Biscuit is available to watch now on Channel 5’s MyPlayer