Hello and welcome back to “Debates We Didn’t Know We Needed To Have Until Right This Second.” Today’s contestants are actor Stephen Mangan and the people of Twitter. These two parties are duking it out over what the end of a loaf of bread is called, and we want to know — whose side are you on?
On December 9th, comedian Romesh Ranganathan tweeted, “My wife’s insistence that the end of the loaf makes acceptable toast will be the reason we split,” unknowingly sparking an internet war that raged on for several days. Ranganathan’s joke was seen by British actor Stephen Mangan, who responded, “I always use the end of the loaf when making toast. This quiet and selfless act of heroism goes completely unnoticed.”
A fan and follower named Karen Lynn had the audacity to ask what Mangan called the end of the loaf — she calls them “outsiders,” but her Welsh partner calls them “enders.” Mangan responded that he calls them “heels.”
And then, all hell broke loose.
Twitter users from all over the U.K. chimed in and tried to snuff out the fire before it turned into a blaze — it depends on where you’re from, some said. Scots and the Irish call them heels. Others say it’s simply the crust.
The heel https://t.co/6sC9u746iI
— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) December 9, 2018
We had team heel gaining support in one corner —
I’m Scottish and it’s definitely The Heel. In my opinion it makes the best slice of toast out the loaf - although I do like the feeling of being saintly at using what is often discarded wastefully by others and happy to wallow in that martyrdom.
— Jane-Claire Judson (@JCJudson) December 9, 2018
It's definitely called the heel.
— Fiona (@FiGilg) December 9, 2018
Yes... In Ireland it's the heel of the loaf ! ....
— Christine Melby 💙 (@LurigDramaCDall) December 9, 2018
— and team outsiders ramping up support in another (stay golden, Ponyboy).
Its the outside of the bread so its the outsiders, obviously.
— 🏳️⚧️Elaine🏳️🌈🌈 🏴🎗🍓🕷🦖 (@ellsbells412) December 11, 2018
Those who favored enders made themselves known.
Always call them Enders.
— Ann McKenna (@annmckenna) December 9, 2018
However, heels and crust were seemingly at the forefront of the race.
Shocked that anyone calls it anything other than the Crust.
— Invalid Handle (@lushattic) December 9, 2018
Bunch of weirdos.
The crust is where all the sugar is
— 〓〓 (@GavinCurnow) December 10, 2018
And then, all of the sudden, dark horse “nobbies” was in the lead. What the heck is a nobby?
We call them nobbies. Don't know why, it's just what my parents always call them, so we do too... 🤔
— Kim Barrett 💙 (@KimBarrett8) December 9, 2018
The Nobby
— It's Lisa J (@itslisaj1) December 9, 2018
my parents called them nobbys
— Holden Caulfield (@JusticeAndDuty) December 9, 2018
There were some hilarious, albeit strange, contenders, as well.
Loafscabs.
— Simon Blackwell (@simonblackwell) December 11, 2018
In our house, the end of the loaf is called the Charlie. Which is a bit confusing now we also have a son called Charlie.
— Alex Freeman (@AlexTM) December 11, 2018
Finally, Mangan compiled the results, categorizing all but heel as “wrong.”
So the end slice of a loaf is (according to you weirdos) - the knobby, knobby end, knob end, nobbly, knobbler, norbert, doormat, topper, nut end, noggie, noggin, ender, crust, butt, outsider, tush, doorstep, bumper, healie, nub, bum, bum end, knocker [all wrong] or heel [correct]
— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) December 11, 2018
Yet even after he thought he had wrapped the debate up, his replies were flooded with more suggestions.
Clearly it’s a crust !!! Thought everyone knew this 😮
— Z i a (@ZiaLombardi) December 12, 2018
It’s the butt.
— kate (@KHarris_98) December 13, 2018
Will the madness ever end? (Ahem… we’re team heel, btw.)
