Jess Hardiman
Everyone's got their favourites when it comes to McDonald's, but there's one menu staple that often proves more divisive than it deserves.
While some people sneer at the idea of ordering a fish dish from Maccy's, the humble Filet-o-Fish is an all-time favourite for others - including none other than the President of the United States.
Eagle-eyed social media users spotted his go-to order while he was aboard Air Force one alongside Elon Musk, Donald Trump Jr, and RFK Jr, as he sat down to eat not one but two of the surprisingly controversial burgers.
“So apparently Donald Trump's Maccies order consists of a Filet-o-Fish? That right there is enough to remove him from presidency,” said one X user at the time.
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But McDonald's clearly knows it's not just Trump that enjoys a fix of fried fish and tartare sauce sandwiched into a burger bun, having embraced its cult status with a brand new version: the Double Filet-o-Fish.
"With twice the taste and two delicious Pollock fish patties in crispy breadcrumbs, melted cheese and creamy tartare sauce, the new Double is encased in a steamed, fluffy, pillowy bun, to give fans more of what they love," McDonald's said in a press release.
The mighty new item will be available in UK restaurants from 1 July.
Better still, that day it'll be on sale for just £2 - less than half price - to celebrate its launch, if you order via the McDonald's app.
Thereafter, the Double Filet-O-Fish will cost £5.29, or £7.39 as an Everyday Value Meal.
It comes after McDonald's realised fans often struggle with the pronunciation of their favourite fishy dish, with 33% of Brits admitting they had been saying it incorrectly.
A poll of more than 2,000 UK adults found that one in five (21%) said they avoided certain dishes in restaurants because they can't pronounce them confidently, with Gen Z diners (28%) the most likely to play it safe when faced with ordering a tricky menu item.
"And it’s not just everyday diners who get it wrong - even Simon Cowell famously called it a 'fish burger' during a 2016 X Factor audition, prompting a quick correction from Nicole Scherzinger, who reminded him it’s the Filet-O-Fish®," McDonald's added.
"The moment lives on as a reminder that even the most confident among us can stumble over tricky pronunciations."
According to the chain, it's 'fil-LAY' to rhyme with, um, slay, rather than 'fil-LET' in which the 't' is pronounced.
Grant Harrold, The Royal Butler, commented: “Mispronunciation fear is leading nearly half (45%) of Brits to miss out on important culinary experiences, as fear of embarrassment prevents them from ordering dishes they want to try. I'm partnering with McDonald's to help bring that fear to an end, so fans don't miss out on all the delicious delicacies they might love but aren't sure how to pronounce.
"That's why, on 3rd July, I'll be sharing expert advice on how to navigate mispronunciation fear and tips on how to politely order those tricky menu items. It's time to say yay to Filet!”