The second I heard that season five of The Great British Baking Show was out on Netflix, I was overjoyed. I curled up on the couch with snacks, a cozy blanket and fluffy socks, and prepared to binge the season in its entirety. I enthusiastically awaited to see my favorite judges, Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, and the two hosts, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc. Their British humor and amazing on screen chemistry was what made the show more than just a baking competition, it became an iconic part of British television.
I pressed play, excitement bubbling up within me for the amazing season that I was soon to experience. Then it hit me. The hosts and judge Mary Berry, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc were nowhere to be found on the screen in front of me. Instead, they were replaced with new British television personalities, Noel Fielding, Sandi Toksvig and Prue Leith. My heart sank and I was in a state of shock. Who were these people? Why the sudden change? And most importantly- was the show that I loved, ruined for good?
The reasons behind the new hosts and judge is a mixed bag. According to the Guardian, Berry, Perkins and Giedroyc decided it was time to leave once the show switched from BBC to Channel 4. They considered BBC as a home and were staying loyal to the channel. However, there may be some other reasons behind their departure. According to BBC News, Perkins and Giedroyc were running out of puns to make and that the duo just needed to move onto another show.
As I forced myself to watch the first episode, I noticed so much that felt different and off as a fan of the show. The interactions between the hosts and the bakers felt forced, as if they were trying to distract us from the fact that everything about the Bake Off had changed. Although just the people changed, it felt as if the environment of the entire show had shifted.
According to The Independent, the new judge Leith was asked about her passion for baking while teaching at a boarding school in England. She admitted that, “I am more interested in savory cooking than baking.” This statement shocked me. How could I resonate with my love for baking through this show if the judge couldn’t even do it? The previous judge of the Bake Off would always inspire me to bake and that it was okay to mistakes. But Leith makes viewers like me lose that passion that attracted us to the show in the first place.
However, the baking component of the show has only increased in quality. With experience from previous seasons, the producers have come up with the most extravagant and interesting baking challenges yet. If there are viewers who enjoy the baking the most, then the Bake Off may still remain on their watch list. On the other hand, if there are viewers who miss the chemistry and cleverness that came with the old hosts’ humor, then there may be little to miss out on by not watching the newer seasons.
In conclusion, the Great British Bake Off remains as one of the most iconic and wholesome shows to watch on Netflix. The first four seasons are filled with laughs, plenty of desserts and even tears. Unfortunately, the new hosts and judge leave viewers like me wanting more. While it continues to run more seasons, the old spark that used to shine upon The Great British Baking Show has forever departed.
