Entertainment
Great British Bake Off announces major change in series shake-up-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
They’re sticking to the ‘traditional’ formula.
Great British Bake Off will revolve around classic weeks like cakes and bread (Picture: Channel 4)
Great British Bake Off has scrapped national weeks for the 2023 series after major backlash.
The Channel 4 show’s boss has admitted the format change, introduced last year, was a big mistake and has vowed to stick to the show’s ‘traditional’ formula.
The competition series had been accused of racism after Mexican Week aired in October, which saw fans call out a joke made by Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding for perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Reflecting on the episode, GBBO executive producer Kieran Smith said: ‘We didn’t want to offend anyone but the world has changed and the joke fell flat. We’re not doing any national themes this year.
He added: ‘I hold my hands up to the cooking complaint and the theme weeks.’
Kieran promised instead producers would return to Bake Off’s original recipe and base shows around classic weeks, including cakes and bread.
Mexican Week was accused of perpetuating harmful stereotypes (Credits: Channel 4)
Alison Hammond, however, is a new addition to the Bake Offf tent(Picture: REX / CHANNEL 4)
He told The Guardian: We’re going very traditional. We’re doing all the regular weeks: Cakes, Biscuits, Bread, Patisserie, Chocolate, plus Party Cakes is a new theme.
‘No spoilers, but it features challenges I think viewers will love.’
It had been previously claimed bosses will be going ‘back to basics’ after last season recorded its lowest ever viewing figures and was panned by viewers for ‘losing its identity’ and challenges for being ‘inaccessible.’
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A fresh batch of bakers will be heading to the tent (Picture: C4/Love Productions)
Showrunner and executive producer Richard McKerrow even acknowledged the ingredients that had served the show so well for several years didn’t quite stick.
‘I’d be the first to hold up our hands and say that I feel that the last series was not our strongest,’ he said.
One welcome change to GBBO, though, is Alison Hammond, who is replacing Matt as Mighty Boosh star Noel’s co-host.
Many fans believe Queen Alison will save GBBO after disappointing figures (Picture: WireImage)
Earlier this week, Channel 4 released a first look at Alison, who many believe will save the show, in the tent and a teaser trailer.
In a statement, she added: ‘Finally I can talk about it! I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Great British Bake Off and can’t wait to meet this year’s bakers. It’s a huge honour to be back in the tent and I can’t wait to get started.’
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It won’t be her first appearance in the tent, after she signed up as a contestant for the Stand Up To Cancer special back in 2020.
The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 in September.
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