Bake Off: The Professionals fans praise new host Ellie Taylor

Ellie Taylor was heaped with praise by Bake Off: The Professionals viewers when she made her debut on the Channel 4 show on Tuesday, 4 July.

The Strictly Come Dancing star replaced Stacey Solomon as co-host of the programme, and she appears on the show alongside former Bake Off contestant Liam Charles who has hosted the show for six series.

Read more: Everything you need to know about Bake Off: The Professionals 2023

Solomon presented the programme for just one season, but the Loose Women presenter was unable to return because she gave birth to her fifth child — daughter Belle — in February when filming was taking place.

On the show, much like the flagship series, Taylor and Charles help assist the contestants as they go through their challenging tasks and try to whip up delectable treats for judges Cherish Finden and Benoit Blin in a bid to win the top prize.

The first show saw Taylor host the show as the patisseries chefs created their own versions of opera aux fruit and a classic banoffee pie, but viewers were most delighted by the presenter's hosting skills.

Taking to Twitter to share their thoughts, one viewer wrote: "Great choice of Ellie Taylor as the new presenter of Bake Off: The Professionals. I really liked her when she stood in on Pottery Throwdown."

Another viewer commented that Taylor "is definitely a breath of fresh air to this show", while several commented on how "excellent" she is at presenting.

While one new fan of the programme added: "I’ve never watched Bake Off: The Professionals before but how good is Ellie Taylor as a presenter on this!!!"

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2023: All you need to know

Sharing their delight for Taylor's hosting skills, one viewer quoted judge Finden by writing: "Ellie Taylor on Bake Off The Professionals!!! As Cherish would say : love it love it love it!"

However, Taylor's appearance on the cooking competition show may have proven a distraction for some viewers, though, as there were a number of viewers who commented on the yellow gingham dress that she wore for the occasion.

One person said of her styling choices: "Ellie Taylor is beautiful but the dress she is wearing is a big no no."

Another viewer jokingly asked why Taylor was "wearing an awning", while another commented: "Ellie Taylor is gorgeous, who has dressed her in that terrible dress."

Taylor is a stand-up comedian and presenter who has appeared on the likes of Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Live at the Apollo and The Last Leg for years.

She famously presented the programme Snog Marry Avoid from 2012 to 2013 and has been a guest presenter on The One Show and Cheat. Taylor also appeared on the 2022 edition of Strictly Come Dancing where she was paired with Johannes Radebe but the pair narrowly missed out on making it to the finals.

But that's not all that she has done, as Taylor also acts and most recently appeared on Ted Lasso as Flo "Sassy" Collins, a character she has played in all three seasons of the beloved Apple TV+ show.

Prior to joining the show, Taylor shared how excited she was to co-host the competition as she commented: "They said, ‘Would you like the job?’ I said, ‘Is there cake? Can I eat it? Yes, please.’

"It was a no-brainer. It’s a dream gig. Cherish and Benoit are lovely, Liam’s a delight and the chefs are brilliant. And I've never got to go to work with a Tupperware I could fill up with nice food before."

Bake Off: The Professionals airs Tuesdays at 9pm on Channel 4.