Rachel Khoo hits out at 'pathetic' lack of female TV chefs: 'You have to tick all these boxes'
The Croydon chef believes her success is partly down to 'looking a certain way'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Celebrity chef Rachel Khoo has criticised broadcasters for not booking enough female-led cookery shows.
The Little Paris Kitchen star, 33, first hit screens two years ago on BBC2 and became famous for whipping up yummy dishes in her tiny Parisian flat.
But, despite her obvious talent, Khoo believes that her success is down, at least in part, to her good looks.
“You are up against a lot of things as a woman,” she told Radio Times. “You have to tick all these boxes to be able to be on TV. I know I look a certain way and that’s party why I’m on TV. If I were really ugly and fat, I don’t think I’d have had the same chance.”
Khoo continued to address gender inequality, arguing that the “last time there was a fat woman chef was the Two Fat Ladies and they called them Two Fat Ladies”.
“There are male chefs who are bigger but they don’t call them fat,” she said.
Channel 4, which features shows from Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, is one of the worst offenders for not giving female chefs a platform, according to Khoo.
“Where are all the women?” she said. “It’s pathetic.”
Khoo, who can be seen in Marks and Spencer's Leading Ladies ad, also pointed out that Nigella Lawson, Lorraine Pascale and The Great British Bake Off’s Mary Berry are the only women given significant airtime on UK television.
There has been no follow-up to The Little Paris Kitchen, despite the first series being seen by nearly two million viewers and broadcast around the world.
Croydon-born Khoo’s new Kitchen Notebook series looking at London’s food scene is on the digital Good Food channel.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments