Ruby Tandoh#Twitter conflicts

{{Infobox person

|name = Ruby Tandoh

|image = Ruby Tandoh at The British Library (cropped).jpg

|caption = Tandoh in 2020

|birth_place = Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England

|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1992}}

|television = The Great British Bake Off

|occupation = Television personality, baker, newspaper columnist, author, model

|spouse = Leah Pritchard (m. 2018)

|employer = BBC / ITV

|years_active = 2013–present

}}

Ruby Alice Tandoh (born 1992) is a British baker, columnist, author, and former model. She was runner-up on series four of BBC's The Great British Bake Off in 2013 and has written four cookbooks. Her 2021 Cook as You Are was named to several best-of lists. Her online debates with many in the UK food world have also drawn attention.

Early life

Tandoh grew up in Southend-on-Sea, as the eldest of four siblings.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/my-perfect-weekend/10424780/My-perfect-weekend-Ruby-Tandoh-Great-British-Bake-Off-finalist.html "My perfect weekend: Ruby Tandoh, Great British Bake Off finalist"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083809/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/my-perfect-weekend/10424780/My-perfect-weekend-Ruby-Tandoh-Great-British-Bake-Off-finalist.html |date=11 January 2023 }}, The Telegraph, 4 November 2013.{{cite news |last1=Pullman |first1=Laura |title=Bake Off's firebrand Ruby Tandoh turns the gas to low |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/bake-offs-firebrand-turns-the-gas-to-low-qjb2v6hlj |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Times |date=26 March 2017 |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083817/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bake-offs-firebrand-turns-the-gas-to-low-qjb2v6hlj |url-status=live }} Her father worked for the Royal Mail and her mother was a school administrator.{{cite news |last1=Billen |first1=Andrew |title=Ruby Tandoh: 'Oh, there will definitely be angry tweets' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ruby-tandoh-oh-there-will-definitely-be-angry-tweets-nt8phck50 |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Times |date=30 January 2018 |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083812/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ruby-tandoh-oh-there-will-definitely-be-angry-tweets-nt8phck50 |url-status=live }} Her paternal grandfather came from Ghana. To save money feeding a large family, they usually cooked from the vegetarian Moosewood Cookbook.

Tandoh had an eating disorder as a teenager, which she describes as "akin to bulimia, with some binge-eating and anorexia on the side". For a while she was vegan – though she emphasizes that being vegan is not an eating disorder for everyone, she says that for her it was. Three years of this disorder led to a suicide attempt at the age of eighteen. She was admitted to a mental health ward but released after one day because she had good grades and "beautiful hair". The eating disorder continued for a total of six years, including throughout her university studies, and her Great British Bake Off appearance.

Tandoh studied philosophy and history of art at University College London, but left after four years without a degree.{{cite news |last1=McGuinness |first1=Katy |title=The chef Critic |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/the-chef-critic-36551883.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=4 February 2018 |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083813/https://www.independent.ie/life/the-chef-critic-36551883.html |url-status=live }}

''The Great British Bake Off''

Tandoh competed in the fourth series (2013) of The Great British Bake Off (GBBO) at age twenty, making her the youngest competitor in the series at the time.{{cite web |title=Ruby |url=https://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/bakers/ruby/ |website=The Great British Bake Off |access-date=17 November 2022 |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083818/https://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/bakers/ruby/ |url-status=live }} She reached the all-women final, with Kimberley Wilson and Frances Quinn.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/oct/22/frances-quinn-wins-great-british-bake-off |title=Frances Quinn wins The Great British Bake Off |first=John |last=Plunkett |date=22 October 2013 |work=The Guardian |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526150342/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/oct/22/frances-quinn-wins-great-british-bake-off |url-status=live }}

Before the final episode, Tandoh was considered the favourite to win by London bookmakers.{{cite news |title=RUBY TANDOH: Why so much 'vitriol and misogyny'? |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/tv-radio/55625/ruby-tandoh-why-so-much-vitriol-and-misogyny |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Week UK |date=23 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109141710/https://www.theweek.co.uk/tv-radio/55625/ruby-tandoh-why-so-much-vitriol-and-misogyny |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title='Bake Off' fans shocked at defeat of favourite Ruby |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/bake-off-fans-shocked-at-defeat-of-favourite-ruby-29687972.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Irish Independent |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083813/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/bake-off-fans-shocked-at-defeat-of-favourite-ruby-29687972.html |url-status=live }} However she attracted noticeable antipathy among some viewers, especially online.{{cite news |title=Why have Great British Bake Off fans got it in for Ruby Tandoh? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/shortcuts/2013/oct/20/great-british-bake-off-ruby-tandoh |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=20 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109135001/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/shortcuts/2013/oct/20/great-british-bake-off-ruby-tandoh |url-status=live }} These critics claimed that she got into the final by crying; or that she and judge Paul Hollywood were personally attracted to each other (enough that Hollywood had to make a statement that he thought Wilson prettier);{{cite news |last1=Wyatt |first1=Daisy |title=Paul Hollywood denies favouring Great British Bake Off's Ruby Tandoh |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/paul-hollywood-denies-favouring-great-british-bake-off-s-ruby-tandoh-i-think-kimberley-s-far-prettier-8881047.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=21 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109124820/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/paul-hollywood-denies-favouring-great-british-bake-off-s-ruby-tandoh-i-think-kimberley-s-far-prettier-8881047.html |url-status=live }} or that she was too self-deprecating; or even that she hit back at her critics (calling one Twitter poster a "bitter old witch"). Sarah Ditum addressed most of these accusations in a defence of Tandoh in The Guardian.{{cite news |last1=Ditum |first1=Sarah |author1-link=Sarah Ditum |title=The Great British Bake-Off: Ruby Tandoh doesn't deserve this hostility {{!}} Sarah Ditum |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/21/great-british-bake-off-ruby-tandoh-hostility |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=21 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=29 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029010352/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/21/great-british-bake-off-ruby-tandoh-hostility |url-status=live }}

Tandoh became one of runners-up to Quinn, who made a three-tier wedding cake inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream which the judges said "beat the other two guys hands down". After the conclusion, Tandoh published a much-cited editorial in The Guardian in which she hit back at the criticism that she encountered during the airing of the show, which she said was surprising, personal, and misogynist.{{cite news |last1=Tandoh |first1=Ruby |title=The Great British Bake Off: why did our show attract so much vitriol? {{!}} Ruby Tandoh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/22/great-british-bake-off-ruby-dandoh?CMP=twt_gu |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=22 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117215941/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/22/great-british-bake-off-ruby-dandoh?CMP=twt_gu |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Swerling |first1=Hannah |title=Ruby exposes Bake Off misogyny |url=https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/celebrity-style/articles/a2138/ruby-exposes-bake-off-misogyny/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=ELLE |date=23 October 2013 |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117215953/https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/celebrity-style/articles/a2138/ruby-exposes-bake-off-misogyny/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Times staff |title=Bake Off finalist Ruby Tandoh shocked by misogyny and vitriol aimed at contestants |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/bake-off-finalist-ruby-tandoh-shocked-by-misogyny-and-vitriol-aimed-at-contestants-bj83ckvxmx8 |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Times |date=23 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109174618/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bake-off-finalist-ruby-tandoh-shocked-by-misogyny-and-vitriol-aimed-at-contestants-bj83ckvxmx8 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Claire |title=Bake Off reaction was 'misogynistic' says Ruby |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10398278/Bake-Off-reaction-was-misogynistic-says-Ruby.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Daily Telegraph |date=22 October 2013 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109131313/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10398278/Bake-Off-reaction-was-misogynistic-says-Ruby.html |url-status=live }} For the fifth series (2014) of GBBO, which included the youngest-ever contestant, seventeen-year-old Martha Collison, the BBC specifically warned contestants how to ignore online trolls in response to the unprecedented abuse that Tandoh received.{{cite news |last1=Furness |first1=Hannah |title=Great British Bake Off contestants warned to ignore sexist web trolls |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/great-british-bake-off/11013192/Great-British-Bake-Off-contestants-warned-to-ignore-sexist-web-trolls.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Daily Telegraph |date=5 August 2014 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109131309/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/great-british-bake-off/11013192/Great-British-Bake-Off-contestants-warned-to-ignore-sexist-web-trolls.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Wyatt |first1=Daisy |title=Great British Bake Off contestants warned to ignore online comments |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/great-british-bake-off-2014-contestants-warned-to-ignore-online-comments-after-ruby-tandoh-twitter-abuse-9650971.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=6 August 2014 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109131308/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/great-british-bake-off-2014-contestants-warned-to-ignore-online-comments-after-ruby-tandoh-twitter-abuse-9650971.html |url-status=live }}

By 2021, Tandoh said that she could no longer watch the series, despite still appreciating it, and that the theme song made her feel sick.{{cite news |last1=Nugent |first1=Annabel |title=Former Bake Off star hits out at show, says theme tune makes her 'feel sick' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ruby-tandoh-great-british-bake-off-b1930481.html |access-date=22 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=1 October 2021 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109124823/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ruby-tandoh-great-british-bake-off-b1930481.html |url-status=live }}

Writing career

Tandoh has written several books: Crumb: The Baking Book (2014), Flavour: Eat What You Love (2016),{{cite news|last1=Rao|first1=Tejal|title=Ruby Tandoh Just Wants You to Eat What You Love|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/dining/ruby-tandoh-flavour-eat-what-you-love.html|access-date=5 January 2017|work=The New York Times|date=3 January 2017|archive-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104223612/http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/03/dining/ruby-tandoh-flavour-eat-what-you-love.html|url-status=live}} Eat Up!: Food, Appetite, Eating What You Want (2018), and Cook as You Are (2021). Eat Up! explores aspects of food culture, such as eating disorders (which Tandoh suffered from in her teenage years), the wellness craze, food snobbery, and pleasure of food.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/feb/05/ruby-tandoh-fine-to-enjoy-ready-meal-eat-up-interview |title=Ruby Tandoh: 'I want to remind people that it's fine to enjoy a ready meal' |first=Killian |last=Fox |work=The Guardian |date=5 February 2020 |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301204140/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/feb/05/ruby-tandoh-fine-to-enjoy-ready-meal-eat-up-interview |url-status=live }}

Eat Up! addresses culinary culture from a social justice point of view, including the colonialist origins of tea, the classism associated with sugar, and food-associated body shaming.{{cite news |title=Eat Up |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ruby-tandoh/eat-up-tandoh/ |access-date=10 November 2022 |work=Kirkus Reviews |issue=15 May 2022 |date=27 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109060620/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ruby-tandoh/eat-up-tandoh/ |url-status=live }} It also covered the dangers of exclusion diets and eating disorders, encouraging the unconditional enjoyment of food.{{cite news |last1=Markwell |first1=Lisa |title=Eat Up! by Ruby Tandoh, review: A healthy appetite for life |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/books/eat-ruby-tandoh-review-healthy-appetite-life-126964 |access-date=10 November 2022 |work=inews.co.uk |date=16 February 2018 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109135007/https://inews.co.uk/culture/books/eat-ruby-tandoh-review-healthy-appetite-life-126964 |url-status=live }} It met positive reviews from Kirkus Reviews, which called it "engrossing", and a mixed one from i newspaper, which questioned its preferring tinned ingredients to raw ones. Eat Up! was a top ten Sunday Times bestseller in 2018.{{cite news |title=Books: The Sunday Times Bestsellers, February 11 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/books-the-sunday-times-bestsellers-february-11-xzgb7slmm |work=The Sunday Times |date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210730085945/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/books-the-sunday-times-bestsellers-february-11-xzgb7slmm |archive-date=30 July 2021 |url-status=live |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Books: The Sunday Times Bestsellers, February 18 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/books-the-sunday-times-bestsellers-february-11-xzgb7slmm |work=The Sunday Times |date=18 February 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210730090110/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/books-the-sunday-times-bestsellers-february-18-mclf8b002 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |url-status=live |language=en}}

Tandoh wrote for The Guardian,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ruby-tandoh |title=Ruby Tandoh |work=The Guardian |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-date=29 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129081402/https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ruby-tandoh |url-status=live }} but announced in June 2018 that she would stop, citing the "elitist" nature of the industry.{{cite news |last1=Coghlan |first1=Adam |title=Food Writer Ruby Tandoh Announces She's Leaving the Guardian |url=https://london.eater.com/2018/6/7/17437558/food-writer-ruby-tandoh-leaves-guardian-food-hell |access-date=10 June 2018 |work=Eater London |date=7 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140727/https://london.eater.com/2018/6/7/17437558/food-writer-ruby-tandoh-leaves-guardian-food-hell |url-status=live }} By March the following year she was again writing occasional articles for the paper.{{cite news |last1=Tandoh |first1=Ruby |title=Pinch of Nom suddenly makes Delia and Heston look a little stale |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/29/pinch-of-nom-delia-heston-cookbook-weight-loss |access-date=13 May 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=29 March 2019 |archive-date=13 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513115641/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/29/pinch-of-nom-delia-heston-cookbook-weight-loss |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Tandoh |first1=Ruby |title=Ruby Tandoh: how I was turned into a human cheese |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/may/13/ruby-tandoh-i-was-turned-into-human-cheese |access-date=13 December 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=13 May 2019 |archive-date=7 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107033812/https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/may/13/ruby-tandoh-i-was-turned-into-human-cheese |url-status=live }}

Along with her wife, Leah Pritchard, Tandoh published the one-off mental health zine Do What You Want in 2017. All profits from the zine go to charities and non-profits.{{cite web |last1=Tandoh |first1=Ruby |last2=Pritchard |first2=Leah |url=http://dowhatyouwantzine.co.uk/about-us/ |title=Do What You Want: About Us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507035234/http://dowhatyouwantzine.co.uk/about-us/|archive-date=7 May 2018}}

Eater said that Cook as You Are "is an exercise in creating room for every kind of recipe and every kind of cook", noting the lack of any photography. Tandoh explained the decision to exclude photographs of food and kitchens as intentional, meant to encourage home cooks to assess their success at creating dinner "not by whether it matches up with a photo of a meal staged by a food stylist for a cookbook photo shoot".{{Cite news |last=Puckett |first=Susan |title=Cookbook review: Meals within reach |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/food-and-recipes/cookbook-review-cook-as-you-are-by-ruby-tandoh/5R2TS5CHNJBXTOW6M6JREL66WU/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |issn=1539-7459 |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110160823/https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/food-and-recipes/cookbook-review-cook-as-you-are-by-ruby-tandoh/5R2TS5CHNJBXTOW6M6JREL66WU/ |url-status=live }} The Atlanta Journal-Constitution describes the book as "focus[ing] on flexible, mostly low-effort, daily cooking, with charming illustrations of various down-to-earth home settings". Publishers Weekly wrote, "For those seeking a no-fuss guide to feeding loved ones and themselves, this is a winner."{{Cite web |date= |title=Cook as You Are: Recipes for Real Life, Hungry Cooks, and Messy Kitchens: A Cookbook by Ruby Tandoh |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593321546 |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=www.publishersweekly.com |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205101855/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593321546 |url-status=live }} The book was named to several best-of lists.{{Cite news |last1=Bitker |first1=Janelle |last2=Ho |first2=Soleil |last3=Kadvany |first3=Elena |date=23 November 2022 |title=These are the 10 best cookbooks of 2022 |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/recipes/article/best-cookbooks-2022-17575898.php |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=24 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124151217/https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/recipes/article/best-cookbooks-2022-17575898.php |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Beggs |first=Alex |date=16 April 2022 |title=The 27 Best Cookbooks of 2022 |url=https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-cookbooks-2022 |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=Bon Appétit |language=en-US |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125195647/https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-cookbooks-2022 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=31 October 2021 |title=The 25 best cookbooks of 2021 |url=https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/this-years-best-cookbooks/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=delicious. magazine |language=en-GB |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125195647/https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/this-years-best-cookbooks/ |url-status=live }}

Public conflicts and criticism

Tandoh's online criticisms of and conflicts with fellow chefs, often via Twitter, have drawn extensive news coverage.

Prior to the airing of the Great British Bake Off 2013 finale, chef Raymond Blanc tweeted that Tandoh was the presumed winner and her emotionality and thinness made him doubt her love for cooking or baking.{{cite news |last1=Kidd |first1=Patrick |title=Rolling pins at dawn over Raymond Blanc's Bake Off tweet about Ruby Tandoh |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/rolling-pins-at-dawn-over-raymond-blancs-bake-off-tweet-about-ruby-tandoh-08rh7stdx7w |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Times |date=22 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109160216/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rolling-pins-at-dawn-over-raymond-blancs-bake-off-tweet-about-ruby-tandoh-08rh7stdx7w |url-status=live }} Tandoh responded, calling Blanc an idiot.{{cite news |title=Raymond Blanc called an idiot by Bake Off finalist Ruby Tandoh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/oct/21/raymond-blanc-idiot-bake-off-ruby-tandoh |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |agency=Press Association |date=21 October 2013 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109135001/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/oct/21/raymond-blanc-idiot-bake-off-ruby-tandoh |url-status=live }}

During Tandoh's stint on Great British Bake Off, comments had been made that she flirted with Paul Hollywood to gain favour. After coming out as gay in 2015, Tandoh responded to these accusations with a statement on Twitter. In 2016, she made insulting comments about Hollywood when he announced that he was moving with GBBO--but without Mary Berry--from BBC to Channel 4, implying he was primarily interested in the money.{{cite news |last1=Hooton |first1=Christopher |title=GBBO: Ruby Tandoh goes in on 'peacocking man child' Paul Hollywood |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/great-british-bake-offruby-tandoh-goes-in-on-peacocking-man-child-paul-hollywood-a7323291.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=22 September 2016 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109124819/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/great-british-bake-offruby-tandoh-goes-in-on-peacocking-man-child-paul-hollywood-a7323291.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Welsh |first1=Daniel |title=Former 'Bake Off' Contestant Ruby Lays Into Paul Hollywood On Twitter |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/great-british-bake-off-ruby-tandoh-paul-hollywood_uk_57e3e32ee4b004d4d8623f3f |website=HuffPost UK |language=en |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=25 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109140947/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/great-british-bake-off-ruby-tandoh-paul-hollywood_uk_57e3e32ee4b004d4d8623f3f |url-status=live }}

In January 2017, Tandoh referred to wellness bloggers, and specifically food writer Ella Mills, as "dangerous".{{cite web |last1=Sholl |first1=Alice |title=Ruby Tandoh calls wellness bloggers 'dangerous', hits out at fellow foodie Ella Mills |url=https://uk.style.yahoo.com/ruby-tandoh-calls-wellness-bloggers-dangerous-103014960.html |website=Yahoo! Life UK |access-date=19 November 2022 |date=26 January 2017 |archive-date=19 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119195901/https://uk.style.yahoo.com/ruby-tandoh-calls-wellness-bloggers-dangerous-103014960.html |url-status=live }} In April 2017, she refused an offer to appear on Good Morning Britain, referring to host Piers Morgan as a "sentient ham".{{cite news |last1=Stolworthy |first1=Jacob |title=GMB asked Ruby Tandoh to come on the show. Her 'sentient ham' response was brutal |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ruby-tandoh-piers-morgan-good-morning-britain-itv-sentient-ham-a7678176.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=11 April 2017 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109124821/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ruby-tandoh-piers-morgan-good-morning-britain-itv-sentient-ham-a7678176.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Jackman |first1=Josh |title=Ruby Tandoh utterly destroyed Piers Morgan, and he may never recover from the burn |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/04/11/ruby-tandoh-utterly-destroyed-piers-morgan-and-he-may-never-recover-from-the-burn/ |website=PinkNews |access-date=17 November 2022 |date=11 April 2017 |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117152617/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/04/11/ruby-tandoh-utterly-destroyed-piers-morgan-and-he-may-never-recover-from-the-burn/ |url-status=live }} In a series of tweets later in April 2017, Tandoh criticised multiple celebrity chefs including Jamie Oliver, Lorraine Pascale, the Hairy Bikers, and Tom Kerridge, for what she called elitism, selfishness, and fatphobia.{{cite news |last1=Nerssessian |first1=Joe |title=Ruby Tandoh slams celebrity chefs in 'selfish, fatphobic food world' |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/ruby-tandoh-slams-celebrity-chefs-in-selfish-fatphobic-food-world-35632124.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=18 April 2017 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109235445/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/ruby-tandoh-slams-celebrity-chefs-in-selfish-fatphobic-food-world-35632124.html |url-status=live }} In May of that year, Tandoh criticised chefs Nigella Lawson, Kerridge, and Anthony Bourdain for supporting boring and privileged cooking.{{cite web |last1=Bagwell |first1=Matt |title=Former 'Bake Off' Star Ruby Tandoh Lays Into Nigella Lawson And Tom Kerridge In Twitter Rant |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ruby-tando-great-british-bake-off-twitter-rant-nigella-lawson-tom-kerridge_uk_5912b02be4b05e1ca20303c6 |website=HuffPost UK |access-date=17 November 2022 |language=en |date=10 May 2017 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109140956/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ruby-tando-great-british-bake-off-twitter-rant-nigella-lawson-tom-kerridge_uk_5912b02be4b05e1ca20303c6 |url-status=live }} In June, Tandoh jointly and separately criticised chefs Oliver, Nigel Slater, Lawson, the Hairy Bikers, and Hollywood for not speaking up before the 2017 United Kingdom general election.{{cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |title=Ruby Tandoh criticises celebrity cooks for 'suspicious silence' over election |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/08/bake-off-ruby-tandoh-criticises-celebrity-cooks-for-silence-over-general-election |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=8 June 2017 |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083811/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/08/bake-off-ruby-tandoh-criticises-celebrity-cooks-for-silence-over-general-election |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Swinford |first1=Steven |title=Bake Off star Ruby Tandoh slams Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver for failing to back Jeremy Corbyn |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/08/bake-star-ruby-tandoh-slams-nigella-lawson-jamie-oliver-failing/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Telegraph |date=8 June 2017 |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117205336/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/08/bake-star-ruby-tandoh-slams-nigella-lawson-jamie-oliver-failing/ |url-status=live }} In August she further criticised Hollywood for blocking her on Twitter.{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=Emma |title=Ruby Tandoh slams Paul Hollywood as new GBBO kicks off |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/great-british-bake-off-s-paul-hollywood-slammed-by-ruby-tandoh-as-new-channel-4-series-kicks-off-a3622736.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=30 August 2017 |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111083811/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/great-british-bake-off-s-paul-hollywood-slammed-by-ruby-tandoh-as-new-channel-4-series-kicks-off-a3622736.html |url-status=live }}

In 2018, Tandoh criticised former Made in Chelsea reality show contestant Lucy Watson, who had released a vegan cookbook in 2017, for tweeting that "most people" should be vegan. Tandoh listed reasons why people might not be able to be vegan, and said that Watson was writing from a position of social privilege. Watson replied by accusing Tandoh of taking offence because her own cookbook contained meat and dairy recipes.{{cite news |last1=Petter |first1=Olivia |title=Former reality TV star slammed for saying 'most people' should be vegan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/ruby-tandoh-lucy-watson-vegan-twitter-a8201736.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=8 February 2018 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109131308/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/ruby-tandoh-lucy-watson-vegan-twitter-a8201736.html |url-status=live }} An editorial by Ella Griffiths in The Independent supported Tandoh.{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=Ella |title=Ruby Tandoh is right – a vegan diet isn't for everyone, and we should respect that |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ruby-tandoh-vegan-lucy-watson-class-economic-avocados-clean-eating-a8204241.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=10 February 2018 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109131309/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ruby-tandoh-vegan-lucy-watson-class-economic-avocados-clean-eating-a8204241.html |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Tandoh joined a chorus of voices criticising the Horizon episode about "The Restaurant That Burns Off Calories", first tweeting, then writing in The Guardian, that it would encourage fat-shaming and disordered eating.{{cite news |last1=Tandoh |first1=Ruby |title=Why is the BBC trying to fat-shame the nation? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/22/why-is-the-bbc-trying-to-fat-shame-the-nation |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=22 April 2020 |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117205031/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/22/why-is-the-bbc-trying-to-fat-shame-the-nation |url-status=live }} Host Fred Sirieix replied by sarcastically thanking her for drawing attention to the episode.{{cite news |last1=Fenwick |first1=George |title=The Restaurant That Burns Off Calories sparks concern from charity |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-restaurant-that-burns-off-calories-bbc-slammed-beat-eating-disorder-a4420036.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=21 April 2020 |language=en |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109160205/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-restaurant-that-burns-off-calories-bbc-slammed-beat-eating-disorder-a4420036.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Carr |first1=Flora |title=Fred Sirieix's The Restaurant That Burns Off Calories sparks backlash |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/fred-sirieixs-the-restaurant-that-burns-off-calories-backlash/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Radio Times |date=21 April 2020 |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117193008/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/fred-sirieixs-the-restaurant-that-burns-off-calories-backlash/ |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Tandoh says that she accepted being queer soon after she came to terms with her relationship to food.{{cite web |last1=Swindells |first1=Katharine |title=The Great British Bake Off is totally queer, says Ruby Tandoh |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/02/02/the-great-british-bake-off-is-totally-queer-says-ruby-tandoh/ |website=PinkNews |access-date=18 November 2022 |date=2 February 2018 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109235447/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/02/02/the-great-british-bake-off-is-totally-queer-says-ruby-tandoh/ |url-status=live }} She writes in Eat Up! that before then she had denied herself both food and meaningful relationships.

Tandoh came out in a Twitter tweet in 2015, with a link to the Diana Ross song "I'm Coming Out".{{cite web |last1=Welsh |first1=Daniel |title='Bake Off' Ruby Just Came Out In The BEST Way Possible |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/04/02/ruby-tandoh-bake-off-comes-out-twitter_n_6992436.html |website=HuffPost UK |access-date=17 November 2022 |language=en |date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109140944/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/04/02/ruby-tandoh-bake-off-comes-out-twitter_n_6992436.html |url-status=live }} This drew extensive media attention, most reporting that she had announced she was gay.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Anita |title=Ruby Tandoh: I'm gay... so the joke's on you, misogynists |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11512324/Ruby-Tandoh-Im-gay...-so-the-jokes-on-you-misogynists.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109124823/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11512324/Ruby-Tandoh-Im-gay...-so-the-jokes-on-you-misogynists.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Riese |title=Ruby Tandoh Is Gay: Food Writer and British Bake-Off Contestant Comes Out, Already Has A Toaster |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/ruby-tandoh-is-gay-food-writer-and-british-bake-off-contestant-comes-out-already-has-a-toaster-283230/ |website=Autostraddle |access-date=17 November 2022 |date=2 April 2015 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109030555/https://www.autostraddle.com/ruby-tandoh-is-gay-food-writer-and-british-bake-off-contestant-comes-out-already-has-a-toaster-283230/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Grierson |first1=Jamie |title=Ruby Tandoh comes out as gay |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/02/ruby-tandoh-comes-out-as-gay |work=The Guardian |date=2 April 2015 |language=en |access-date=25 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109135008/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/02/ruby-tandoh-comes-out-as-gay |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Bake Off's Tandoh comes out as gay |url=https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/bake-offs-tandoh-comes-out-as-gay-31113848.html |work=Irish Independent |date=2 April 2015 |language=en |access-date=25 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109235448/https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/bake-offs-tandoh-comes-out-as-gay-31113848.html |url-status=live }}

In her 2018 interview with The Times, Tandoh identified herself as bisexual, saying that she had past boyfriends.{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Billen |date=30 January 2018 |title=Ruby Tandoh: 'Oh, there will definitely be angry tweets' |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ruby-tandoh-oh-there-will-definitely-be-angry-tweets-nt8phck50 |work=The Times |id={{Gale|A525588001}} and {{ProQuest|1992306683}} |access-date=18 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109160205/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ruby-tandoh-oh-there-will-definitely-be-angry-tweets-nt8phck50 |url-status=live }}

Tandoh had been encouraged to come out by her girlfriend, Leah Pritchard, a musician training to be a psychotherapist.{{cite news |last1=Pointer |first1=Anna |title=Ruby Tandoh: 'I Feel Sorry For People Who Document Every Meal In Pictures' |url=https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/ruby-tandoh-bake-interview/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=Grazia |date=1 August 2016 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109135005/https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/ruby-tandoh-bake-interview/ |url-status=live }} Tandoh says she was lucky to meet her after only a couple of dates after accepting her bisexuality. They met on Tinder, and announced their relationship soon after Tandoh's coming out tweet. They live in Sheffield, where they married in a low-key ceremony on 31 August 2018.{{cite news |title=Bake Off star Ruby Tandoh weds fiancé Leah Pritchard – and celebrates with a trip to the cinema |url=https://www.independent.ie/style/weddings/real-weddings/celebrity-weddings/bake-off-star-ruby-tandoh-weds-fiance-leah-pritchard-and-celebrates-with-a-trip-to-the-cinema-37295343.html |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=8 September 2018 |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031040001/https://www.independent.ie/style/weddings/real-weddings/celebrity-weddings/bake-off-star-ruby-tandoh-weds-fiance-leah-pritchard-and-celebrates-with-a-trip-to-the-cinema-37295343.html |url-status=live }} They share episodes of depression and anxiety, such as Tandoh feeling trapped inside her home for multiple days at a time.

Tandoh has spoken out about her struggles with eating disorders, criticising the body shaming common in "wellness" culture and advocating a healthier, more positive approach to food writing.{{cite web|url=http://www.gal-dem.com/gal-dem-in-conversation-with-ruby-tandoh/|first=Suyin|last=Haynes|title=gal-dem in conversation with Ruby Tandoh|publisher=gal-dem|date=16 October 2016|access-date=16 October 2016|archive-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018233319/http://www.gal-dem.com/gal-dem-in-conversation-with-ruby-tandoh/|url-status=live}} She was voted the Great British Bake Off{{'}}s favourite past contestant by the Radio Times audience in 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-08-05/ruby-tandoh-is-your-favourite-ever-great-british-bake-off-contestant|title=Ruby Tandoh is your favourite ever Great British Bake Off contestant|work=Radio Times|date=5 August 2015|access-date=18 April 2017|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418162702/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-08-05/ruby-tandoh-is-your-favourite-ever-great-british-bake-off-contestant|url-status=live}}

Bibliography

Crumb: The Baking Book (2014), {{ISBN|0701189312}}
Flavour: Eat What You Love (2016), {{ISBN|0701189320}}
Eat Up!: Food, Appetite and Eating What You Want (2018), {{ISBN|1781259593}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Mary Elizabeth |date=13 August 2022 |title="Great British Bake Off" veteran Ruby Tandoh: "I see the show and I feel a pressure from it" |url=https://www.salon.com/2022/08/13/great-british-bake-off-veteran-ruby-tandoh-i-see-the-show-and-i-feel-a-pressure-from-it/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=Salon |language=en |archive-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130101342/https://www.salon.com/2022/08/13/great-british-bake-off-veteran-ruby-tandoh-i-see-the-show-and-i-feel-a-pressure-from-it/ |url-status=live }}
Cook as You Are (2021), {{ISBN|978-0593321546}}{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=James |date=7 September 2022 |title=Ruby Tandoh Pushes Back |url=https://www.eater.com/pop-culture/23339254/ruby-tandoh-baking-show-new-cookbook-cook-as-you-are |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=Eater |language=en |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209164123/https://www.eater.com/pop-culture/23339254/ruby-tandoh-baking-show-new-cookbook-cook-as-you-are |url-status=live }}