Great British Bake Off shares touching message of hope ahead of new season launch amid ‘challenging times’-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

Bake Off is back – and we need it more than ever (Picture: Channel 4)

The Great British Bake Off – ie, the TV equivalent of the warmest hug imaginable – finally returns tonight, introducing viewers to a brand new batch of contestants on Channel 4.

Following the news of the Queen’s death aged 96 last Thursday, there was speculation over whether the start date of GBBO would be postponed.

However, the new Bake Off is going ahead as planned, with the series releasing a heartfelt message to its fans ahead of the launch.

In a post shared on social media, the show addressed the fact that we’re living in ‘challenging times’, as they expressed their hope that the programme helps to ‘bring about a few smiles’ every week that it airs.

We have no doubt whatsoever that they’ll definitely success on that front!

The post read: ‘These are challenging times we live in, but we dearly hope the return of Bake Off will bring about a few smiles every Tuesday evening. Perhaps the odd tear too. And maybe a soggy bottom.’

Our hearts are already full, and Bake Off hasn’t even started yet. The power of that show.

With judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith returning alongside hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, excitement is rife as viewers prepare to meet and fall in love with the line-up of bakers hoping to win the 2022 title.

This year’s competitors range from a nuclear scientist to a music teacher, as well as an architectural assistant, cardiovascular research associate and a former charity director.

We definitely don’t envy Paul and Prue having to send a baker home every week (Picture: Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4)

Paul recently warned viewers that this year’s series is going to set off the waterworks, teasing how ‘devastating’ the eliminations are going to be.

‘There was a couple of weeks where we had to sort of sit down properly and break things down to little faults that they may have had, which, in the end, sent them home. And it’s hard,’ he revealed.

Last year, the competition was won by fan-favourite Giuseppe Dell’Anno, beating runners-up Chigs Parmar and Crystelle Pereira.

Giuseppe was named star baker twice ahead of his win, having been a strong contender throughout the series.

The Great British Bake Off airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 4 and will be available to watch on All 4.

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