It seemed that episode five of the current season of The Great British Bake Off was the week new judge Prue Leith decided to get catty.
The 77-year-old Mary Berry replacement had clearly found her feet by the time pudding week rolled around, as viewers in their droves notices how cutting her put downs had suddenly become.
They even expressed a protectiveness over fan-favourite contestant Liam Charles, who suffered a trifle disaster, leaving viewers worried Prue would be nasty to him.
‘She’s like Mary Berry’s evil stepmother!’ Fans turn on Prue Leith for her ‘cutting’, ‘savage’ and ‘rude’ Bake Off critique… as they gush over ‘adorable’ contestant Liam Charles
Prue’s gloves first came off when she was served a far-from-appealing custard by last week’s Star Baker Kate.
‘That’s not custard, it’s a huge mistake,’ she said of the watery yellow mess that wallowed around in the bowl before her.
When served up some molten chocolate and peanut cakes (also made by Kate) host Noel Fielding told her and co-judge Paul Hollywood to ‘enjoy’, to which Prue snarled ‘I don’t think we will’.
She also threw around remarks like ‘it’s a bit clumsy’ and ‘that looks pretty dreadful, really’.
Fan-favourite: Viewers expressed a protectiveness over contestant Liam Charles, who suffered a trifle disaster, leaving viewers worried Prue would be nasty to him
Catty: Prue’s gloves first came off when she was served a far-from-appealing custard by last week’s Star Baker Kate. ‘That’s not custard, it’s a huge mistake,’ she said of the watery yellow mess that wallowed around in the bowl before her
Tweets came in thick and fast about Prue’s ‘withering putdowns’ with many of them comparing her to the previous judge Mary Berry.
‘Woah who took Prue her tea in a mug rather than a china cup that morning #brutalfeedback #gbbo,’ one person typed.
‘Prue is waaayy harsh,’ came another, followed by someone else: ‘Prue I’m sorry but who do you actually think you are love???????’
Awkward: When served up some molten chocolate and peanut cakes (also made by Kate) host Noel Fielding told her and co-judge Paul Hollywood to ‘enjoy’, to which Prue snarled ‘I don’t think we will’
Not to be trifled with: She also threw around remarks like ‘it’s a bit clumsy’ and ‘that looks pretty dreadful, really’
‘This might be bake off but f**k me prue doesn’t do sugar coating jeez #GBBO #PuddingWeek,’ a fourth person wrote.
Someone else shouted: ‘PRUE IS SO RUDE!’
‘Prue Leith is being Prue Lethal tonight,’ came another remark, echoed by someone else who tweeted: ‘Prue’s being dead snide tonight, need Mary back to tell them their bakes look rustic!’
Not amused: Tweets came in thick and fast about Prue’s ‘withering putdowns’ with many of them comparing her to the previous judge Mary Berry
‘I don’t like Prue. She’s too blunt. She might as well say “It’s s**t. You’re s**t. Everything’s s**t”. #GBBO,’ someone declared.
‘If Mary was the granny who always gave you pocket money, Prue is the one who nips you when nobody is looking,’ someone else observed, followed by ‘Prue’s like Mary Berry’s evil stepmother!’
‘Puddings have made Prue extra rude this week!’ came another tweet, echoed by another that read ‘Is it just me, or does Prue seem really nasty and patronising at times?’ followed by ‘Prue’s a sassy little b***h isn’t she!’
Others, however, were loving it.
‘lmao as much as I miss Mary, she was never this savage. Prue is great,’ one person typed.
‘Prue is so savage, but I’m here for it,’ echoed a second.
A third typed: ‘Prue is brutal this week. And it’s amazing!’
Meanwhile there was a lot of love for Liam – who was seen to shed a tear when his trifle nearly got him sent home.
‘I don’t think Liam is going to win but he is my favourite #GBBO contestant. Ever,’ one fan announced.
‘#GBBO ❤️ Liam ❤️ Contagious smile and the personality of #GBBO2017,’ declared another.
‘If we were all a little bit more like Liam from #GBBO – the world would be a better place,’ gushed a third.
Another wrote ‘I want to adopt Liam,’ echoed by someone else who commented ‘Liam is just the cutest!! Love him!’
Some weren’t as impressed by the aspiring Bake Off champ: ‘Why do people like Liam? He’s distinctly average in comparison to many of the other bakers and has squeezed through several rounds.’
Elsewhere, Sophie was crowned Star Baker and James was sent home, rending Liam safe.
The Great British Bake Off continues next week from 8PM on Channel 4 (and it’s pastry week).
