Nigella Lawson slams ‘mean’ cooking shows: ‘A theatre of cruelty and humiliation’

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. She told Australian Women’s Weekly that cooking shows that involve shouting and making disparaging comments to contestants is “counterproductive for everyone”. It doesn’t mean to say you’re not honest, but there’s never a need to be mean.” Popular TV cooking shows such as Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen famously feature judges and chefs shouting down contestants. “Originally, My Kitchen Rules wasn’t about that… We went away a little bit from what used to be and we’re bringing that back – that sense of encouraging people just to cook and love food.” Elsewhere in the interview, Lawson revealed that cooking for herself is what got her through her first husband John Diamond’s terminal cancer. She said that cooking meals for one when the late Diamond, who had oral cancer, couldn’t eat, was “part of holding onto my sanity”.