GREAT British Bake Off star Ravneet Gill has issued an apology after making “harmful” comments on spinoff show An Extra Slice.

The chef and author, 33, appeared on the Channel 4 programme alongside host Jo Brand and guests Jonathan Ross and Josh Pugh on October 10.

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While discussing the Bread Week challenges, Gill told the panel: “Well, I love bread, but my mum’s coeliac so she shouldn’t eat bread, but she still loves it, she still eats it.”

Her remarks were criticised by the Coeliac UK, and hundreds of viewers with the autoimmune condition, which requires a strict gluten free diet and affects one in 100 people.

In an open letter to the Bake Off producers, charity CEO Hilary Croft said Gill had “trivialised” coeliac disease, which can lead to severe pain, recurrent miscarriage and even bowel cancer if not properly managed, and “sent a harmful message to the public”.

In response, the Junior Bake Off judge said on Instagram: “I want to make it really clear that my intention was not in any way to cause any misinformation about the severity of coeliac disease or to downplay it at all.

“For that, I hold my hands up and that was really never my intention.”

She added: “For those of you that don’t know me, I thought I’d provide a bit of context to my work and what I do.

“When I was in my 20s, I worked in London’s first gluten-free restaurant, long before platforms like YouTube and Instagram were as big, and I spent a lot of time educating myself.

“I also have spent the last year writing a lot more gluten free recipes for the community, and that’s because I get asked about them a lot.

“I just want to circle back and let you know that I didn’t intend for those comments to cause harm, and the fact that they did really upset me, and I’m sorry about that.”

She insisted that her mum isn’t upset, and that “in a fast-moving panel show, sometimes it’s hard and you can’t get your words out, and I should have provided more context”.

Brand saw the funny side, saying of Gill’s mum: “Good for her.”

“And good for whoever cleans up after her,” Ross joked, followed by laughter from the studio audience.

Croft “expressed concern” over the interaction, as did several influencers and hundreds of social media users.

One person wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Her comments were ridiculous.

“Eating gluten when you have coeliac disease is extremely damaging and you should not be encouraging this.”

While another said: “It was unbelievable. Ravneet is a Junior Bake Off judge!

“I can’t believe how ill-informed she is and how coeliac disease was trivialised.”

And gluten free blogger Becky Excell said: “This is so frustrating when we are all working so hard to raise awareness of coeliac disease in the right ways, and especially with it not being too far from the festive season when we really need everyone to understand more than ever.

“It’s especially frustrating when a programme isn’t even live as itcould have been stopped from being aired.

“Following a gluten free diet isn’t for fun or enjoyment, it’s not a choice.”

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In a public letter to the producers of An Extra Slice, Croft said: “We are writing to you as Coeliac UK, the national charity representing the interests of people living with coeliac disease.

“We would like to express our concern regarding the comments made by Ravneet Gill during the latest episode of An Extra Slice (series 15, episode 3), which aired on October 10 at 8pm.

“During the show, Gill made light of coeliac disease when discussing her mother’s condition.

“The comments [made by Gill, Brand and Ross] trivialise coeliac disease and send a harmful message to the public.

“Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition where the ingestion of gluten triggers an immune response that damages the gut lining, leading to nutrient malabsorption and a host of potential health complications.

“Even the smallest crumb of gluten can cause severe symptoms, including debilitating pain, prolonged suffering and even recurrent miscarriage, as well as long-term health risks such as osteoporosis and, in rare cases, small bowel cancer.

My view, as someone with coeliac disease

By Alice Fuller, Senior Health Reporter

WE all know that Ravneet Gill, Jo Brand and Jonathan Ross were joking.

And it was funny, as eating gluten when you have coeliac disease really can make a mess!

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But while I can laugh, it is also incredibly disappointing.

As someone with the condition, I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when people just don’t get it.

I have my own toaster, butter and jam, I use a separate chopping board, and I avoid anything labelled ‘may contain gluten’ or ‘made in a factory that handles gluten’.

I also have to do extensive research when going out for dinner and I always carry a cereal bar in my bag in case I can’t find anywhere safe to eat.

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It’s a nightmare, and when people make light of eating bread when it could make you seriously ill, it only adds to the misunderstanding.

Coeliac disease is serious, and it needs to be taken seriously.

“It is crucial to emphasise that coeliac disease is not a food preference or an allergy; it is a serious medical condition that requires lifelong adherence to a strict gluten free diet.

“We are particularly disheartened by Gill’s comments given her previous role as a judge on the Junior Bake Off, where she displayed compassion for those that have been diagnosed.

“The remarks made during An Extra Slice perpetuate a narrative that dismisses the severity of this condition.

“They suggest that individuals with coeliac disease and the physical and mental health implications of adhering to a gluten free diet.

I want to make it really clear that my intention was not in any way to to downplay coeliac disease at all

Ravneet GillChef

“Discussions around gluten free diets should promote accurate understanding, respect, and accommodation for dietary needs rather than downplaying their significance.

“We are hopeful that this incident will encourage your team to engage in respectful conversations regarding coeliac disease and its impact on individuals and families.

“We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further and provide accurate information about coeliac disease to ensure a more informed dialogue in future broadcasts.

“We kind request that you consider issuing an apology to people with coeliac disease on air to address the dismissive and inaccurate portrayal of coeliac disease presented in your programme.

“Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response.”

Gill said she will try to “think more carefully” before speaking on TV again.

Channel 4 has been approached for comment.

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Vanessa Feltz faced similar backlash after comments she made on This Morning last year.

More than 2,000 complaints were made to Ofcom after saying a caller’s mother-in-law not allowing them to bring their own food to a gluten free Christmas dinner was “completely unreasonable”.

“She’s treating coeliac disease as if it’s a potentially fatal peanut allergy and they can’t have anything with gluten in the house,” Feltz added.

The 61-year-old later apologised on her TalkTV show, saying she was “very sorry”.

A MUM who was told by doctors her bad back could be muscular problems from lifting her kids was devastated when the pain was diagnosed as a terminal condition.

Jennifer McNeill, 34, said her symptoms started when she began experiencing a stabbing pain in her back and could barely walk.

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The mum-of-two, from Gourock, Scotland, went to see her GP, who recommended she do physiotherapy for three weeks.

But the pain got worse and after undergoing several tests and scans she was told she had stage four breast cancer which had spread to her spine.

Because her cancer had already spread, medics were unable to operate to remove the cancer and Jennifer was told her illness was terminal.

She said: “The pain was so bad that it forced me to the ground and my partner had to lift me up because I could not stand up.

“I went to the hospital and they put it down as muscular pain

“I was in complete agony for months. When the pain first started, Aidan was one and Millie was two.

“The doctors said I had probably strained it whilst lifting them. It went on for months and got so severe that I could barely walk.

“I just couldn’t believe that after many visits to the hospital and to many doctors that it was terminal cancer and it was too late to do anything – it had already spread to my back and I haven’t had any issues with my breasts.”

Jennifer was forced to seek private medical care to get a MRI scan of her lower back, which identified two fractures in her spine.

When the pain spread down her legs and she was unable to pass urine she attended the A&E department at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in July 2021.

Doctors then ordered a CT scan and discovered a cancerous tumour on her spine.

Talking about the moment she was diagnosed, Jennifer said it was her children Millie, now 6, and Aidan, now 4, she thought of.

She said: “As soon as I was diagnosed I didn’t know if I would see the next couple of weeks. I was scared, they were babies at the time.

“There were plans I was making ahead, family holidays and looking into schools.

I have so many wonderful people in my life who have supported me so much. Honestly, if love could save me, I’d be cured already.

Jennifer McNeill

“I was devastated and in shock. I never thought I had cancer, because obviously it never showed up when I had my scans and when I went private so there were lots of unanswered questions that I had.”

Jennifer was offered several rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and has been taking the chemo drug Enhertu.

She decided not to tell her kids about the cancer. She said: “By telling them that I have a sore back they know that I won’t be able to lift them and it is the truth because I am restricted to what I can do.

“You don’t want to tell them that you have cancer and that you have got a terminal illness and a timeline.”

Jennifer said her life has completely changed now and “it’s been turned upside down”.

She continued: “All I can do it put on a brave face and pretend I’m okay for the sake of my children.

“I don’t want to scare them, but the sad reality is this is how they know their mummy.

“They expect me to be in bed, to be in pain and to be unable to walk. This is our life now.

“I want to live each day to the max for my children, but I can’t due to pain and mobility. It kills me.

“I have so many wonderful people in my life who have supported me so much. Honestly, if love could save me, I’d be cured already.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and as Jennifer receives ongoing treatment she’s stressing how important it is to get checked regularly.

Over the last few years, Kevin McNeil, Jennifer’s husband of eight years, and several friends have raised over £30,000 for the hospice to show their appreciation and are planning to do more events and activities to collect more funds.

To donate, visit their JustGiving page.

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THERE is arguably nothing worse than feeling a cold coming on.

Those all too familiar symptoms, sore throats, runny noses and pressure in your face, strike children twice as many times a year as adults.

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And with a new Covid variant driving up new cases, and flu poised to strike, it seems like everyone is coming down with something at the moment.

While it can be hard to tell all three bugs apart, a cold, on the whole, tends to be a little milder.

There’s no proven way to get rid of cold, however, several medicines and remedies can help ease the symptoms, TV pharmacist Thorrun Govind explains.

“The crux of getting yourself better involves lots of rest, sleep and water; this will give your immune system the best chance,” she tells The Sun.

She also stresses the importance of keeping yourself hydrated.

You don’t need to gulp down two litres of water – tea and coffee also work

“You can also try drinking some fruit juice or squash – the important thing here is to avoid dehydration,” Thorrun explains.

The main reason to pay close attention to your fluid intake when you’re sick is that you are probably neglecting your normal eating and drinking habits.

On top of this, you’re also losing water to congestion and a fever.

Treatments that work

If those pesky symptoms are getting the better of you, Thorrun says there are a few treatments you can try.

“Try gargling some salt and water to treat a sore throat,” the pharmacist suggests.

To do this, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.

Gargle with the solution, then spit it out. Repeat as often as you would like.

According to Penn Medicine, salt water can help kill bacteria, ease pain, and loosen mucus, helping to relieve symptoms.

For those wanting to relieve their blocked noses, try some decongestant medicines.

“Nasal sprays work much quicker than tablets because the decongestant reaches your blocked nose almost instantly,” Thorrun explains.

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In fact, health experts in the US claimed decongestants when used in oral medicines (rather than nasal sprays), don’t work at all.

“Make sure you don’t use these sprays for longer than five days,” she warns, “as using them for any longer can make your nose more blocked, even after the infection has cleared up”.

Recently, scientists have found that saline nasal drops can reliably shorten a child’s cold by two days, in addition to reducing the risk that they’ll pass the bug on to their parents or other family members. 

The best way to ease aches and pains we often get with a cold is to pop some paracetamol and ibuprofen, the expert adds.

“You can take both these at the same time, but make sure you keep track of how much you take so you don’t take too much,” she explains.

Myths to avoid

“Some people take vitamin C, but there is very little evidence to suggest it helps with a cold,” ^Thorrun says.

Some studies suggest the vitamin could help clear up a cold faster, but the evidence is still inconclusive.

“Another popular product for cold and flu among patients is echinacea, but there isn’t much evidence to suggest it does anything,” she adds.

Echinacea is a plant that experts once thought stimulated the immune system to fight infection more effectively.

Recent studies have found that dietary supplement does little to reduce the time you feel ill.

Thorrun warned people asking for or using against using left-over antibiotics they might find in their house.

“You won’t need antibiotics if you have a cold because colds are viruses, and antibiotics are only effective against bacteria,” she says.

Prevention is better than cure

Like with all illnesses, when it comes to a cold, prevention is better than cure.

“To avoid getting a cold, wash your hands regularly, particularly before touching your nose or mouth and handling food,” Thorrun says.

And if you live with someone with a cold, don’t share items like a towel or cup with the ill person.

When to see a GP

You only need to see a healthcare professional if your cold symptoms persist for more than three weeks or if they worsen suddenly.

You should always seek help if you develop breathing difficulties, chest pain, or start coughing up bloodstained mucus.

Which cold and flu remedies actually work?

Sun Health reporter Isabel Shaw put nine well-known cold and flu remedies when she was struck with a lurgy.

Over the course of a week, she tried products targeted at all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues.

These included:

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1. Hot honey and lemon
2. Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub
3. Echinacea
4. Chicken soup
5. A spicy curry
6. Beechams All in One Oral Solution
7. Strepsils
8. Lemsip Max
9. Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray

She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.

Read her full verdicts here.