Great British Bake Off 2014: Contestants warned to ignore online comments after Ruby Tandoh Twitter abuse
Bakers have been told not to 'read, engage or focus' on any online comments
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Your support makes all the difference.Great British Bake Off contestants have been warned not to take part in “negative exchanges” on social media, after last year’s finalists suffered sexist abuse online.
The bakers have been told not to use foul language on public forums such as Twitter and Facebook, and have been advised not to “read, engage or focus” on any comments on their performance, The Telegraph reports.
The advice from the BBC about how to deal with online trolls follows a large amount of negative social media exchanges that took place during last year’s fourth series.
Ruby Tandoh, the youngest contestant last year, was forced to defend herself from accusations she flirted herself into the final after being called a “filthy slag” on Twitter.
She spoke out about the “increasing degree of personal vitriol and misogyny she suffered” as a female finalist on the show.
Raymond Blanc was forced to apologise after commenting on Tandoh’s weight on Twitter, who branded him an “idiot” in her reply.
The UCL student often took to replying to her critics on Twitter, which saw her call one viewer a “bitter old witch” in an online row.
The warning from the BBC not to engage in comments online about the contestants’ performances comes as the youngest ever competitor, Martha Collison, a 17-year-old school girl, is about to enter the baking tent.
The gentle baking show, which has become a surprise ratings hit, is expected to attract its biggest audience yet as the series moves from BBC Two to BBC One this year.
The Great British Bake Off starts tonight at 8pm on BBC One
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