Mary Berry and Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw on the BBC show. Photo / Supplied
Mary Berry and Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw on the BBC show. Photo / Supplied
Baking queen Mary Berry's halo has been dented slightly, after fans accused her of fat-shaming a fellow chef.
One of the UK's national treasures, who won a legion of fans for her traditional recipes and penchant for a saucy innuendo, raised eyebrows with a wisecrack about Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw'sframe in the latest episode of her BBC show, Classic Mary Berry, according to The Daily Mail.
As the pair wandered the pebbled beach in Port Isaac to find fresh fish for a dish, Nathan explained he was drawn to the Cornish coast because of his love of surfing.
Mary, 84, appeared stunned at this revelation, playfully stopping dead in her tracks and gesturing towards Nathan's body as she asked: "You, surfing?"
"You must go very fast... a lot of weight on that board," she added.
Although Nathan laughed heartily, Mary's remarks did not sit well with those watching at home, who took to Twitter to accuse Mary of being "rude" and "casually fat-shaming".
Mary Berry questioning Nathan's love of surfing: "You? Surfing?", she said. Photo / Supplied
Nathan's eponymous restaurant in Port Isaac has just been voted the best in England, and it has two coveted Michelin stars.
The 40-year-old chef wasn't too fussed about Mary's lighthearted jibe, as he responded: "I know can you believe it?
Mary added: "Well you must go very fast... A lot of weight on that board!"
"It was a very very big surfboard. That's all I'll say!" Nathan said.
Wow Mary. I don’t care how long you’ve been on TV or been cooking. You’re old enough to know that you’re so rude. Nathan very kindly let her off that caustic comment #maryberry
@maryberrycook So Mary Berry, you have sunk to the low levels of a lot of other TV cooks, by trying to humiliate Nathan outlaw. You should be ashamed, what right do you have to make personal comments about someone else's personal appearance. Arrogant and rude, apologise now
"Wow how any times is Mary berry going to fat shame tonight!!" fumed one.
"'You, [wind]surfing?' Bit harsh Mary. Poor @nathanoutlaw #classicmaryberry" added another.
Mary Berry and Nathan Outlaw on the beach. Photo / Supplied
Later, as the pair were making an apple, beetroot and pickled walnut salad on the windy seafront, Nathan added two large dollops of yoghurt of which Mary said "that better be full fat".
Nathan joked: "You don't get a body like this eating low-fat!"
