Matt Lucas brushes off 'Celebrity Bake Off' backlash: 'I don't care'

Matt Lucas stepped in to save last night's episode of Celebrity Bake Off when a contestant dropped out – but as some viewers complained of "favouritism" in the judging, the comedian hit back by joking he was "an icon and a national treasure".

Lucas, who usually hosts the Channel 4 show alongside Noel Fielding, joined Annie Mac, Ed Gamble and Example as a contestant in the tent this week when the fourth famous baker was a no-show.

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But despite doing his bit to keep the show going, some viewers still weren't satisfied, arguing that he shouldn't have got a Hollywood Handshake for his bakes by colleague and judge Paul Hollywood.

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However, Lucas took the criticism with his usual good humour by tweeting a link to a story about people tweeting that his Hollywood Handshake shouldn't count.

The Little Britain star joked: "Say what you like. I don’t care. I got a Hollywood Handshake and I won the Technical. Plus I know where they keep the Star Baker aprons so I’m going to take one anyway. Plus I’m an icon and a national treasure."

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His fans supported him as one person commented: "It was brilliant, and you were brilliant, fair play for stepping in!"

Someone else added: "Don't listen to them Matt...and yes, you are a treasure."

Example eventually won the episode and has spoken about Lucas' bravery in filling in for the missing celebrity, who he said was Martine McCutcheon.

The rapper said: "I think fair play to him as a lot of people will think maybe he wanted to do this and he didn’t want to do it as he had no preparation.

"He found out the morning we started filming he was told ‘sorry you’re not going to be presenting today you’re going to be baking’ so he’s the real soldier in all this."

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer is a joint fundraising campaign between Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK, which continues next Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.