Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith have broken their silence over The Great British Bake Off's controversial Mexican Week which aired earlier this year.
The episode didn't go down well with viewers who slammed the show for using "racist stereotypes" as the presenters wore ponchos and sombreros while holding maracas.
Hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding wore sombreros and sarapes (shawls) while making several puns and playing the maracas on screen.
The duo joked about not being able to make 'Juan' joke about Mexico on the Channel 4 programme.
Noel said: "I don't feel like we should make Mexican jokes, because people will get upset," to which Matt asked: "Not even Juan?"
During a new episode of Eater, Paul says he was "gutted" by the backlash as he "loves" Mexico.
The Wallasey-born baker said: "I'd literally come back from Mexico about three weeks before we filmed the episode.
"I spent a month over there with Mexican chefs, working with tacos and enjoying the food in Tijuana and Mexico City and Oaxaca and Cancun."
He continued: "I was all over the place, and we set the challenges based on what I'd seen there, the challenges were very good, and everyone did a good job.
"I was gutted. I mean, I was really upset about it."
Meanwhile, fellow judge Prue commented, explaining that the team "never go out to be controversial", before adding: "We try to be dead honest, it was quite unfortunate that quite a few people took offence, but we certainly didn't mean it.
"As Paul says, the thing about Bake Off is that it absolutely represents inclusivity and diversity and tolerance and togetherness.
"I don't want to sound sentimental, but the fact is that the vibe of Bake Off is entirely cooperative and encouraging – so the idea that we were set out to insult anybody is ridiculous."
During the episode, fans took to social media to share their fury with one saying: "You could have honoured an amazing culture instead of stupid racist jokes and tropes."
"Tacky jokes about Mexican stereotypes and no attempt to properly pronounce the language (from Noel/Matt). Hopefully, it's a one-off," said another.
Before a third added: "Honestly the most British thing the Great British Bake Off has done is butcher things from other cultures for their own enjoyment."
The episode had contestants attempting to cook Mexican staples, such as tacos, pan dulce and a tres leches cake.
One part had Prue say the cakes 'look Mexican' as they had 'lots of bright colours'.
Noel mispronounced 'besos' as 'Bezos' while one contestant called guacamole 'glocky-molo'.
