'Offensive' and 'patronising' rap for TV's Great British Menu subtitles on north Derbyshire chef with partial hearing loss

Mark Aisthorpe, chef patron of The Bulls Head, Holymoorside, is competing in the Great British Menu and viewers will find out tonight (Thursday) whether he has won through to the national final.

Meanwhile, the addition of subtitles earlier in the week to comments made by Mark, who has to lip read because of partial hearing loss, has sparked an outcry on social media.

On Twitter @clairebessy posts: “Why are there subtitles when Mark speaks. I can understand him just fine.”

Another post from @LorendaKitten states: “I could understand everything he was saying. I found that offensive to him that subtitles were added.”

And Lizzie Jones comments: “What’s even more patronising is the fact that it’s not all the time.”

A spokesman for the BBC said: “The BBC uses subtitles in programmes where audibility may be impacted by location, conditions and clarity of dialogue.”

The Derbyshire Times has approached Mark for a comment.

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/derbyshire-chef-mark-aisthorpe-cooks-in-regional-final-of-great-british-menu-3605256