Alex Jones, the host of The One Show, swapped teatime TV for the breakfast spot as she stepped in for Matt Tebbutt on Saturday Kitchen Live today. While Matt enjoys a much-needed break in Australia, fans of the popular BBC cookery show weren’t all thrilled about Alex’s return to the kitchen.
Despite her previous stints hosting in Matt’s absence, today’s episode sparked an online firestorm, with many viewers taking to social media to share their frustration.
Alex Jones Takes the Reins
At the beginning of the show, Alex addressed Matt’s absence, explaining that he was away in Australia and would be back to host next weekend (March 14). However, judging by the backlash, it was clear that some fans weren’t too happy with her presence on the show today.
Some viewers were so unimpressed they didn’t hesitate to switch channels, with James Martin’s Saturday Morning even getting a mention online. Saturday Kitchen Live’s rival cooking show had its share of attention from those who clearly weren’t fans of Alex’s hosting style.
Viewer Backlash
The criticism didn’t take long to appear online, with one viewer tweeting, “Alex Jones. How many times! Get someone else!” while another said, “Well, that’s me turning off Saturday Kitchen this week.” A third chimed in, “Alex Jones ruining our Saturday mornings now too.” And another viewer was even more vocal: “That’s it, I’m done – ITV it is.
Many fans expressed their disappointment over the BBC’s selection of cover presenters, with one saying, “Auntie must be in a pretty woeful state now in terms of talent resource when seemingly the only two cover presenters they have are Alex Jones and Alex Scott.”
One critic added, “A lot of hate for Alex Jones on the #SaturdayKitchen hashtag. Normally I would have no truck with that sort of thing. However, in this case, it is totally justified. I’m sure she’s a nice person, but as a TV presenter, she is absolutely dreadful.”
Support for Alex
But not all viewers were on the same page. A number of fans quickly jumped to Alex’s defense. One Instagram user wrote, “I usually watch James Martin, but @alexjonesthomson is fantastic on this today. Everything she does is fab and fun.” Another supporter commented, “Love Alex.”
Some viewers even boldly swam against the tide, with one saying, “Well, I’m swimming against the tide as I really like @alexjonesthomson – she’s a really good, engaging presenter.”
Call for Kindness
As the online battle raged on, one fan called for more understanding, saying, “Why are people so critical? Press the button on your remote – simple! With everything going on at the moment, just be kind.”
While the jury is still out on Alex’s Saturday Kitchen Live hosting gig, it’s clear this latest stint has stirred up a dramatic debate. Will she win over the fans or is it time for the BBC to consider a fresh face in the kitchen? Stay tuned… 👀
