A Killer Whale, Prue Leith’s Slip-Up, and The Great British Bake Off
Published: 22:27 BST, 26 September 2023 | Updated: 22:27 BST, 26 September 2023
The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4 – Roland White Reviews
There’s a new twist in this year’s series of The Great British Bake Off that adds an exciting ingredient to the show. Alison Hammond has taken over from Matt Lucas as the comedic sidekick, joining Noel Fielding on the hosting panel.
Former Big Brother star and This Morning host, Alison Hammond, brought her usual warm and jolly persona to the show. She demonstrated her natural ability to connect with the bakers, previously Noel’s role. This means Noel Fielding will have to up his game.
While Alison is undoubtedly a comic addition, she hasn’t yet showcased her full comic potential like Matt Lucas did in previous seasons by singing the Flintstones theme tune in German to baker Jurgen. However, it’s early days and anything can happen.
The true stars of the show are, of course, the bakers. However, this season presents a challenge in predicting who will be the standout personalities. In previous years, contestants like Syabira, Jurgen, and Giuseppe made an immediate impact and left a lasting impression. The nation mourned when Jurgen was eliminated in the semi-finals last year. Who captures our hearts this season remains uncertain.
The Whims of the Bake Off Kitchen
In the latest episode, one baker in particular, Amos, caught the early attention. His larger-than-life personality, complete with a baggy jumper and a safety pin earring, made him stand out. Yet sadly, his bake didn’t rise to the occasion. He struggled with his vertical layer cake and failed to recover.
In the showstopper round, the bakers were tasked with creating animal-shaped cakes. Amos chose a whale, but unfortunately, his attempt didn’t quite hit the mark. Paul Hollywood criticized the cake’s shape and even described it as tough as old boots. Ultimately, Amos had to say goodbye, although it was a close call as many bakers were at risk of elimination.
This season promises to be brutal, as Paul mentioned earlier that a significant number of contestants could potentially leave after the showstopper round.
A Shining Star Emerges
The first Star Baker of the season was engineer Dan, a meticulous and precise baker similar to fellow engineer Giuseppe. From the start, Dan exuded confidence and skill. His rhubarb and custard vertical cake received high praise from Prue Leith, and he also won the technical challenge with his Great British Bake Off chocolate cake.
The viewers may find themselves rooting for Tasha, a delightful former ski instructor who is deaf and relies on her sign-language interpreter, Daryl, to follow the action. Daryl’s presence seamlessly integrates into the show. While Tasha faced early struggles in the first two rounds, she redeemed herself in the showstopper round with a stunning cake shaped like a robin red-breast. Other contestants to watch include former air steward Nicky and intelligence analyst Saku, who have the potential to blossom as the season progresses. Chartered accountant Keith might also prove to be a dark horse.
The Return of Bake Off Humor
Bake Off humor can sometimes feel forced, with an abundance of terrible puns. However, in a surprising turn of events, Prue’s innocent conversation with Nicky about her animal cake, Norman the beaver, took a hilariously unexpected twist. While we won’t repeat Prue’s exact phrase, it left Paul Hollywood laughing uncontrollably to the point of speechlessness.
It’s refreshing to see the show embrace its mischievous side once again, even if it leads to blushing moments. Kudos to the producer for keeping in Prue’s original request.
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