BBC faces ridicule as TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall appears on flagship politics show to give his views on Middle East conflict

By MARTIN ROBINSON, CHIEF REPORTER

Published: 10:51 BST, 16 June 2025 | Updated: 10:55 BST, 16 June 2025

The BBC has been ridiculed after making the bizarre decision to put TV Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on an expert panel on the Israel-Iran conflict on its flagship political show.

The cook and Green Party supporter used his appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg to attack the decision to deploy the RAF to the Middle East.

He also demanded Britain refuses to sell weapons to the Israeli Government and criticised the UK for helping to train Israel Defense Forces personnel. 

Hugh, most famous for championing the use of fresh, seasonal and foraged British ingredients, also claimed that the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran was a disaster for Gaza. 

Viewers were shocked he was invited on the show and mused whether the BBC would have Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver on the panel next week.

Another wag asked: ‘When will you be getting Nigella Lawson’s take on North Korea’s nuclear capability? Just don’t want to miss that one’.

One critic has launched a Government petition asking for the G7 Summit to be expanded to the G8 ‘to include the guidance of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’. 

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall was on a high-power panel with British-Iranian journalist Christiane Amanpour and Lord Browne, the former boss of BP who has spent periods in Iran.

Hugh was asked by Laura Kuenssberg to comment on Israel’s decision to strike more than 100 targets in Iran due to its ‘nuclear ambitions’.

The TV chef said that Israel had been waiting for the chance to strike its enemy – but immediately criticised the Prime Minister and the Government of the UK. 

‘Chef and activist’ Hugh was asked to speak on the Israel-Iran conflict on the BBC’s flagship politics show 

Journalist Christiane Amanpour, Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall appearing on the BBC1 current affairs programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

‘It’s concerning to me that we’re sending jets out to the Middle East to support this when all the talk should be of de-escalation’, Hugh said.

‘If Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour government really wanted to show they were serious about de-escalating, they should stop selling arms to Israel’.

He said it was time for Britain to ‘push Israel very hard’ and withdraw military support and training.

‘Personally I think we should have done [that] a long time ago’, he said.

He also criticised the Government’s decision to cut the Foreign Office budget.

After Ms Amanpour speculated on Israel’s military strategy and Lord Browne spoke about the global oil and gas trade, Hugh was asked about what he thought about the images from Israel and Iran.

The cook said he was shocked but went on that the Israel-Iran conflict was another tragedy for Gaza because the plight of their people has been taken off the front pages. 

He said: ‘This is an absolute disaster for them’.

He went on: ‘We have to spare a thought for them today’.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran was a disaster for Gaza

The chef and Green supporter outside BBC Broadcasting House yesterday 

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BBC faces ridicule as TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall appears on flagship politics show to give his views on Middle East conflict

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