Cooking show fans have been left horrified after The Big Family Cooking Showdown featured one family topping pizza with Brussels sprouts.

The curious topping was devised by the Dawes family as they were challenged to create a meal for a family of four for a budget of £10 in the BBC 2 show on Tuesday night.

The famously unpopular vegetable failed to inspire judge and TV cook Rosemary Shrager, and viewers were right behind her.

Ariadne Griffin complained on Twitter: “If my mother put Brussels sprouts on a pizza I would actually emancipate myself #CookingShowdown”.

John McCarthy agreed: “I love brussels but on (pizza) err that would be a big fat NON from me,” and Patrick Mclean added: “Feels like an obvious no to me!”

The Big Family Cooking Showdown continues on BBC 2 with hosts Zoe Ball and Nadiya Hussain and judges Shrager and Giorgio Locatelli next Thursday.