Furious Saturday Kitchen viewers stop hosting row as host Matt Tebbutt is replaced by another big star
Saturday Kitchen viewers tuned out this weekend due to a shake-up from the presenter.
Fans were left furious when host Matt Tebbutt, 49, was replaced by Alex Jones, 46, with many claiming a chef should have been hired to fill in.
During the BBC breakfast, Charlie Stayt, 61, headed to the Saturday Kitchen studio to tease what would happen on the show at 10am.
Over a video link with Alex, Charlie commented, “Matt’s gone and you’re there instead!” with The One Show star Alex enthusing: ‘Absolutely! Matt’s gone and I’m here to play!’
Matt’s representatives confirmed to MailOnline that the much-loved presenter was away due to a long-term commitment and will return to the show next week.
Saturday Kitchen viewers tuned out this weekend due to a presenter shake-up as host Matt Tebbutt, 49, was replaced by Alex Jones, 46
Frustrating! Fans were left furious, with many claiming a chef should have been hired to replace Matt (pictured), who was absent due to a long-term commitment
Fuming: When they realized who Matt’s stand-in was, viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their overwhelming disappointment
Upon realizing who Matt’s replacement was, viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their overwhelming disappointment, with one tweeting: ‘Alex Jones hosts #SaturdayKitchen Why??? I am gone.’
“I saw Alex Jones and immediately turned off #SaturdayKitchen,” another wrote, with a third adding: “@SaturdayKitchen Alex Jones, god no! Moving to ITV and @jamesmartinchef.’
One viewer argued: ‘Presumably Matt is filming for Channel 4 or something. Nothing against Alex Jones (apart from her ubiquity), but a renta presenter doesn’t really fit the ethos of #SaturdayKitchen, which has been presented by a professional chef since they got rid of the #masterchef greengrocer.’
Someone replied: ‘yeah…exactly my thought…turned it off – her pointless chatter is annoying…enough chefs could be there to present and turn on real food.’
With a similar sentiment, another fan tweeted: “I have nothing against Alex Jones but there’s no point in having her there. It has to be a chef who can actually do the cooking parts.
“Why when you can get so many? It detracts from the show. @TheoRandall could have done it, and saved some £ too.”
One disgruntled viewer commented: ‘No offense to Alex Jones, nice lady, but *Olly Smith would have been the stand-in host for me this morning – he’s done it brilliantly for me before.’
‘#SaturdayKitchen, give lofty or the studio cat a chance to present the next time @matt_tebbutt is away. Basically anyone or anything other than Alex Jones,” someone else begged.
Supportive: However, a few viewers were in favor of Alex hosting Saturday Kitchen
However, a few viewers were in favor of Alex hosting Saturday Kitchen, with one asking: ‘What the hell did Alex Jones do wrong. The comments here! #saturdaykitchen.’
Another admitted: ‘I’m quite enjoying Alex’s presentation style this morning. #saturdaykitchen.’
MailOnline has contacted Saturday Kitchen for comment.
Alex has stood in for TV chief before: in February she stepped in to present the show while Matt was busy with another project.
The presenter joked at the time: ‘You know what? I kidnapped Matt, but not! I actually didn’t do that! He’s at work, so I’m only here for one day. It’s a dream come true, I love this program.’