Bake Off is back! It's set to return on September 26th, with new host Alison Hammond replacing Matt Lucas. In recent years some of the "bakes" have been criticised for their difficulty, or for not really being bakes at all. In response, the GBBO team have discussed in the press this series returning to the show's roots in terms of challenges. Whether that is true remains to be seen...

 

I'm certainly quite excited to see what Alison brings to the table though! She's always a ray of sunshine in whatever she's in.

 

I’m excited! I really like Alison and think she could be just what the show needs. I hope she doesn’t go TOO over the top though. There is a limit haha!

I’ve only just noticed that for past couple of years it’s started quite a bit later! It always used to begin in late August.

Last year's series definitely felt unusually like a slog despite some likeable contestants. A back-to-basics approach sounds great, and Alison is just the shot up the arm this show needs *.*

Bake off really kicks off autumn properly for me, can’t wait for it to be back! And Allison is gonna be so fun I can already tell!

"Nikki, tell us about your Beaver" :lol: :o

Alison is smashing it. It feels like she has the perfect balance on this show. It’s really working!

So much better than the last series... which just felt off. Also this series seems to have got the challenges about right too.

 

It was getting very bake off professional with the expectations at times.

Pleased for Matty getting SB this week. He's kind of been getting by nicely in the middle somewhere up until now but hopefully this week is the start of him pulling it out the bag and becoming one of the forces of the competition :heart:

Was glad Matty won. As you say he’s been middle of the pack, so good to see him upping his game.

 

Glad they skipped someone going as I didn’t want Saku to go; she’s great!

 

 

Saku and Christy were very lucky that one of them didn't go. They were both well behind the others. They only survived because Tasha's Signature meant that she was also in danger, had she been able to complete all three bakes. I have nothing against them, but I hope one of them doesn't end up winning just because one of the rounds was filmed on a very hot weekend. After all, the judges don't go easy on a contestant because their otherwise brilliant bake melted.

All my favorites this season got cut before the final, wasn't impressed really with any of the three finalists.

This seems stuck and stale now, definitely became a chore to watch this towards the end.

Liked this series and felt there was a good overall quality to the bakers

 

Matty was a shock winner but good profession throughout

Yeah I really enjoyed this season; alot more than the last season.

 

Also really glad Matty won :D