James Acaster
Acaster has also been nominated a record four times for the Edinburgh Comedy Award from 2012 to 2015, but never won. He did scoop the breakthrough award and the best show award at the Chortle Awards 2015 for Recognise.
Read More
232 viewers complain over James Acaster's Saturday Kitchen 'rampage'
Comedian trashed the set..
More than 200 people have complained about James Acaster pretending to trash the Saturday Kitchen set in a comedy rampage.
The BBC’s editorial complaint unit has revealed that 232 viewers felt strongly enough to contact the broadcaster over the comedian’s December 6 outburst..
The stand-up wreaked havoc after the public voted against his preferred dish during the show’s regular Food Heaven or Food Hell segment.
He overturned a Christmas wreath on the table, punched a stuffed polar bear in the face and grappled with a Christmas tree, sending ornaments flying.
Acaster was on the show with his Off Menu co-host Ed Gamble. The outburst in the final minutes of the live broadcast came after viewers picked Gamble's tapas over Acaster's unconventional panettone tiramisu-Christmas pudding creation.
Presenter Matt Tebbutt and the other guests, chefs Andi Oliver, Tasha Marikkar and Ben Lippett and sommelier Helen McGinn, were amused by the antics.
However, 232 viewers complained that the ‘guest’s behaviour [was] felt to be inappropriate’.
It was the second most-contentious thing the BBC broadcast in the first two weeks of December, behind the episode of Question Time featuring migrants in the audience which attracted 1,379 complaints of bias – both for and against the Reform UK party.
The complaints unit has not yet responded to those who complained about Acaster’s behaviour.
James Acaster's live meltdown. You're welcome. #SaturdayKitchen pic.twitter.com/tzwCX6qCHt
— Paul Burley (@PaulBurleyFFS) December 6, 2025
Published: 19 Dec 2025
Hypothetical gets a fourth series
Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster are to return for…
20/12/2021
James Acaster to make his movie debut
James Acaster is to make his movie debut in a new musical…
7/07/2021
Ed Gamble and James Acaster’s Off Menu podcast…
23/06/2021
James Acaster: I didn't want to have anything to fall back on
James Acaster appears on Big Zuu’s Big Eats next…
8/06/2021
James Acaster: I got heckled for talking about mental health
He has won plaudits for talking about his mental health…
13/05/2021
Tom Allen to host The Island panel show for Dave
Tom Allen is to front a new Dave panel show in which…
5/05/2021
Stand-ups in mockumentary to aid comedy club
One of London’s best-loved comedy clubs has made…
21/01/2021
Comics to record Beatrix Potter stories
Comics Aisling Bea, James Acaster, Robert Webb, Ben…
6/08/2020
Off Menu hits 30 million downloads
Ed Gamble and James Acaster's Off Menu podcast…
22/07/2020
A Hypothetical third series becomes reality
Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster’s…
5/02/2020
New BBC podcast for James Acaster
James Acaster is to launch a new BBC podcast based…
4/02/2020
America set to remake James Acaster sitcom
James Acaster’s failed BBC Two pilot We The Jury…
26/01/2020
Past Shows
Agent
Chris Lander
Contact by email
Office: 020 7291 9000