Is something amiss in the GBBO tent?

October 21, 2020 by
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As Jenny has noted in her weekly recaps, the Great British Bake Off seems to be lacking its usual charm and it seems more difficult to engage with the bakers this season. It is difficult to put a finger on what about the show is leaving people cold. The hosts seem fine, the bakers are characters as always, so what is different? Jenny and I are not alone in this feeling – over at Eater, Madeleine Davis also laments that GBBO doesn’t feel the same this year.

One idea that Davis posits is that the “challenges have been leaning less and less on classic baking and more on viral Instagram foods” like that dreadful rainbow bagel. Making a good bagel would have been enough of a challenge, why did they have to muck it up with this ridiculous twist? Last year Jenny said that the show seemed to be more ‘Americanized’, with the drama being artificially elevated. I think that trend is continuing under the Love Productions banner.

Davis also notes that over the years, the hosting team has gone from a 3:1 female to male ratio to the reverse. It could be that the hosting dynamics have shifted enough to alter the entire show. I adore Matt Lucas (Little Britain is one of my favorite shows of all time), and Noel Fielding is fine, but I think that Mel and Sue worked the tent better and the original team is impossible to beat.

Another curve ball is that 2020 has been such a crazy, upside-down time that it is difficult to suspend reality and become fully immersed in the show. Even though GBBO went to great lengths to quarantine the contestants and production staff so it seemed just like normal, it is almost impossible to think of 2020 as normal so everything appears a little off-kilter.

For all of the issues with GBBO, the one area where I do not find fault is with the contestants. However, I think that once a show has been on the air for so long, it becomes more difficult for the contestants to break out of the previous challengers’ shadows. Rowan did seem to do that this year, but alas, he is no longer in the tent with his wild ambitions, waistcoats, and cup of tea. I will continue to watch GBBO because even with rainbow bagels and Prue dissing babka, it is better than the reality of 2020.

Edit to add: here is an interesting five-point manifesto to save the GBBO. I can’t say that I disagree with it.

Category: Antipasto

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10 Comments

  • dgiles  on  October 22, 2020

    I love GBBO, but at times it seems like it is becoming a stage for the hosts. Instead of engaging with the contestants about the challenge, it’s like the hosts are trying out their own comedy material. I’m not watching to see Matt Lucas doing a comedy bit. I’m watching to see the baking.

  • Jane  on  October 22, 2020

    I can’t imagine I will ever stop watching GBBO but I do find myself more often irritated than charmed lately. The Noel/Matt comedy routines feel very forced whereas Mel & Sue seemed so natural. And I’ve never been disgusted by a technical until those rainbow bagels. I still love the contestants and Paul and Prue are good as judges but I think the producers seriously need to think about who this show appeals to – people who love baking, love eating baked things and want a comforting respite from the world.

  • annmartina  on  October 22, 2020

    I still like the show, but I feel bad that something like this can’t stay innocent and sweet. Rowan was all style and no substance, Paul Hollywood’s recent headlines make me uncomfortable and more conscious of how he focuses on the pretty contestants, and nothing will ever measure up to Mel and Sue’s witty gentleness. The only other challenge I’ve hated more than the rainbow bagels, was when they made pie and then all complained about how awful American pie is.

  • Jenny  on  October 22, 2020

    I just updated my recap now that I am feeling better and linked to the same manifesto. I was trying to hold my tongue and be appreciative for the joy of GBBO but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

  • Shelmar  on  October 22, 2020

    I am tired of them pretending it is tomorrow in the same clothes.

  • Jenny  on  October 22, 2020

    Shelmar, that made me LOL

  • Shelmar  on  October 22, 2020

    I miss Mel and Sue. Matt is better than Noel for me. I am glad to have new episodes, but it is like a different competition than in past years. I feel the hours standing alone change one’s ability to bake well.

  • eliza  on  October 22, 2020

    I’m not watching the current season (no Netflix, not in the UK), but I have watched most of the past seasons. Currently CBC is airing the 10th season and I have to agree that I’m finding it a little flat. I used to love this show, (despite never caring for Mr Hollywood), and I like the hosts, but the selection of contestants seems pretty lacklustre in this one. I’m still watching, but it has lost something.

  • icicle  on  October 23, 2020

    Agreed. I’m tired of watching the hosts act like 6 year old boys. I’m not charmed by fart jokes, terrible puns/jokes and seeing how many funny voices or head balances they can do. Grow up already and engage thoughtfully and emotionally with the contestants, please.

  • Brabant  on  October 24, 2020

    The trouble with GBBO this year is the ghastly Matt Lucas. He is not funny and totally false. A poor replacement for Sandi Toksvig.

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