Only a few months after comedian Matt Lucas’s departure from the show, The Great British Bake Off has revealed that the divisive comedian will be replaced by British actress and television personality Alison Hammond in this fall’s new season. On Instagram the actress posted a cake depicting a press conference with figurines of herself, judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, and longstanding cohost Noel Fielding—and announced her new role by interviewing the edible miniatures about how thrilled they are. It’s the most Bake-Off thing I’ve seen from Bake-Off in years.
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As a longtime fan of the show, I couldn’t be more excited for the Hammond era. You may recognize Hammond from her appearance as a contestant on the 2020 GBBO charity special. In the episode she demonstrates impressive baking skills through the signature and technical challenges, producing some expertly baked brownies and Yorkshire puddings. She exhibits a healthy dose of humility and humor when her showstopper—an ambitious 3D police station made of cookies—falls apart. Taking it in stride, she snickers through the entire judging session, prompting even the steel-faced Paul Hollywood to laugh.
Hammond’s reality TV career began with a run on Big Brother in 2002 (she was the second housemate to leave). She’s also appeared on British shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Loose Women, the Hotel Transylvania film series, and, as a cohost, the 2022 BAFTA award ceremony. Bake Off is not the first cooking show on her resume either, as she appeared as a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef UK in 2014 and a string of cooking shows in the early 2000s. On social media she can be seen dancing, singing, playing the piano, and generally being a joyful presence.
Her comedic persona radiates positivity—a welcome change from Lucas, whose sarcasm and cringe comedy felt antithetical to the show’s general good vibe. I’m hoping Hammond’s presence injects some much-needed wholesomeness into TV’s best comfort watch, especially considering GBBO’s recent trend towards intense, difficult, and time-crunched technicals. I want to watch happy people have fun, not contestants break down during poorly designed ice cream challenges.
Hammond’s previous appearance as a contestant gives us some insight into her hosting style. “You know when some people have dogs that look like them? This is a traybake that looks like me,” she says on the episode, presenting a plate of brownies delightfully decorated with pink and red hearts that just so happen to match her bright red floral dress. She cheekily adds, “Anytime I go out and try a brownie, it never compares to mine.”
I’m curious if she’ll bring that confidence to her role as host. I’ve never seen an episode of Bake Off where a host knows anything about baking, something that maybe feels like it should be a prerequisite for the job. On the contrary, Fielding and Lucas often joked about their lack of kitchen experience while contestants struggled through complex recipes. While this made the show feel relatable to non-bakers, it also—like any joke repeated again and again—got old after a while.
With that in mind, I’m ready to watch a season of Bake Off with a host who actually seems to enjoy baking—who says she loves baking, as she did during her episode. It’s also worth noting that, as a Black woman, Hammond will be the first person of color to host GBBO in its 13-year run. While I’m optimistic to see the show’s permanent cast better reflect its diverse viewership, it’s good to recognize that—although one hire is an improvement—it probably won’t change the entire character of the show. I’m still skeptical of Bake Off’s ability to handle cultural sensitivity (especially after last year’s regrettable Mexico Week).
But I’m jazzed to see Hammond added to the GBBO cast—proper chuffed, as a Brit might say. Cooking competitions trend toward cut-throat challenges and over-the-top gimmicks (as this one occasionally does too), but to me Bake Off remains the Platonic ideal of what food TV can be: encouraging, straightforward, and focused on the food and contestants. With her experience and obvious joy for the art of baking, Hammond seems like a promising fit for the tent.
Now, about those ice cream challenges…