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BBC bans Rick Stein from wearing his favourite shirts on TV

If you’ve ever caught an episode of Rick Stein’s Long Weekends, you’d be forgiven for wondering if the affable TV chef is receiving some sort of backhander from Ralph Lauren.

Rick Stein/BBC
Rick Stein/BBC

And clearly his BBC bosses have cottoned on that something might be amiss, too. Rick’s just been BANNED from wearing his favourite polo shirts on all future episodes of any BBC show.

During a recent episode of the BBC 2 show show, while ironing a pink shirt on camera in Greece, Rick said: “People like Michael Portillo or Michael Palin, I am sure they get people who iron their shirts.

“They always seem to have so many lovely, pristine shirts wherever they are.

“I’ve got a few other shirts, but the problem is the director keeps cutting bits of me walking down one street and bits of me walking into a palace but they have got to match up.

Rick Stein/BBC
Rick Stein/BBC

“So basically he just wants me to use the same shirt all the time. The other shirts have got blinking makers’ logos on and the BBC don’t like it so I’ve just got the pink one.”

Rick’s love of Ralph Lauren first came to the fore back in March, when fans wondered on Facebook whether the 69-year-old star had a sponsorship deal with the premium sports brand.

“Why does he always wear that navy blue Ralph Lauren shirt?” wondered one fan. “He seems to wear it for every shoot.”

“His uniform must be sponsored,” added another.

Rick Stein/BBC
Rick Stein/BBC

Ralph Lauren insists there’s no deal with Rick, and we have to wonder whether the TV chef would be the first person they’d choose if they wanted to flog more shirts anyway. Sorry Rick.

The BBC said: “He wears a range of clothing on screen to ensure no brand is given undue prominence, in line with BBC editorial guidelines.”