Warning, may contain nuts! Great British Bake Off viewers shocked by 'explicit' image of male squirrel



Animal's graphic TV appearance watched by millions



All eyes should have been on the delicious array of cakes and pastries prepared by the finalists of the Great British Bake Off.



But winner Joanne Wheatley’s moment of glory had to play second fiddle to a squirrel.



The rodent, seen loitering in the grounds of the mansion where the BBC2 show was filmed, was the subject of a lingering camera shot.

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Exposed: The squirrel has become a sensation on social networking sites

And viewers could not help noticing its unmistakably masculine appearance.



Clips were posted on YouTube, while hundreds took to social networks and TV forums to discuss it.



One joked: ‘This evening’s Great British Bake Off contains full-frontal squirrel nudity which some viewers may find startling.’



Another said: ‘A squirrel is flashing everyone on the Great British Bake Off.’



Others were more disturbed by the image, complaining it was an unnecessary and unwelcome distraction on a show about baking. Since the programme was recorded some time ago, it could easily have been edited out.



The taste of success: Great British Bake Off winner Jo Wheatley (far right) with fellow contestants, from left, Janet Basu, Holly Bell and Mary-Ann Boermans. Presenters Mel and Sue, seated centre.



One viewer commented: ‘Why did the cameraman focus on the squirrel at all? I just didn’t need to see that.’ A record five million viewers saw grandmother Mrs Wheatley crowned Queen of the Bake Off on Tuesday night.



She beat thousands of other amateur bakers, including favourite Holly Bell, to win after wowing judges Mary Berry and John Hollywood with her ‘pretty’ and ‘girly’ array of cakes and pastries.



She is now tipped to be a star in her own right and is expected to be offered a cookery book deal.



Sweet victory: Joanne Wheatley triumphed, despite being rather upstaged by the attention-seeking squirrel

The 41-year-old mother of three sons, who was married at 17, honed her culinary skills making cakes for her boys, who regularly scored her out of ten for her efforts.



Mrs Wheatley taught herself to cook with a combination of recipe books and experimentation, as well as ‘tough feedback’ from her children.

The housewife from Essex battled crippling nerves throughout the eight-week competition but impressed judges with her creativity and skill.



The second series of the programme, presented by Sue Perkins and Melanie Giedroyc, has been the surprise television hit of the year and superseded Masterchef as the must-watch show for cookery fans.



Filming took place at Valentines Mansion and Gardens in Essex, where all the contestants had a baking station and presented their efforts in the lush gardens surrounded by bunting.



The programme has sent demand for baking products soaring.

Marks & Spencer reports sales increases of up to 20 per cent in ingredients, while John Lewis has seen a 46 per cent rise in sales of three-tier cake stands and cake tins and muffin trays.

