BBC Saturday Kitchen viewers were immediately divided just moments into this weekend’s show as they were blasted with a brash musical welcome from a theatrical guest.
Host Matt Tebbutt, 51, was joined on Saturday by US actors Marisha Wallace, 39, and stage legend Billy Porter, 55.
Also in the kitchen were chefs Elliott Grover and Seema Pankhania alongside EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt with stalwart wine expert Helen McGinn.
Wallace and Porter were appearing in between myriad performances of their hugely successful West End adaptation of the classic musical, Cabaret.
Saturday Kitchen's latest episode opened with a musical introduction
BBC
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Suitably, Saturday's show was opened with a welcome message put to song - belted out by Porter.
"Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome!" The actor sang with arms outstretched.
"That was always going to be low-key," Tebbutt joked, adding: "We're in for a truly entertaining feast of food and fun in the kitchen today!"
While the theatrical opening was met with delight in the kitchen, some viewers at home were less than impressed.
"Time to turn Saturday Kitchen off already #SaturdayKitchen,” one complained almost immediately.
Another agreed: "That was enough for me. Straight off and now I'm on ITV."
"Too much for me at this time I the morning!!" a third exclaimed.
Viewers were divided over Porter's bombastic delivery
BBC
"It’s too much loudness for a Saturday morning #SaturdayKitchen," a fourth declared similarly.
Throughout the show, the banter between Porter, Wallace and Tebbutt tested viewers further, with Porter's bombastic delivery being particularly of issue.
"#saturdaykitchen I wish that American bloke would speak up a bit .. I can't hear him at the bottom of my garden," one viewer joked.
Another sniped: "Does Billy Porter live by a busy road - with a deaf person?… #saturdaykitchen"
However, not all Saturday Kitchen fans were unhappy with Porter and Wallace.
Tebbutt later had to apologise for an accidental 'naughty word' uttered by Porter
BBC
"Loving Marisha Wallace and Billy Porter on #saturdaykitchen this morning. Their show at the Kit Kat club is phenomenally brilliant," one glowed.
Another shared, simply: "I love Billy Porter. That is all."
Porter later got himself in further hot water when discussing British food.
"The seasoning of the food has got better," he began before reminiscing about having regular dinners with British actor Jonathan Pryce, with whom he trod the boards in the 1990s.
He recalled: "We went out at least three or four times a week because he was like: ‘The food is s****!"
After a brief moment of awkward titters, Tebbutt intervened to address the accidental on-air swearing.
"Apologies if anyone heard a naughty word there. We apologise for that," he said with a grin.
A mortified Porter explained he had assumed the word he used was an acceptable version of another s-word.
