Great British Bake Off 2020, episode one recap: Whoever came up with the ingenious cake-heads challenge should take a bow
Loriea Campbell-Clare becomes first contestant to be eliminated from 11th series
Youngster Peter Sawkins is crowned this year’s first Star Baker
New co-presenter Matt Lucas opens show with Boris Johnson impression
High drama as Sura knocks rival Dave's cakes to floor while swatting a fly
Bake Off in a bubble began with controversies, accidents and a closely fought Cake Week.
On your marks. Get set. Here are all the major talking points and social media reaction from the opening episode…
New host Matt Lucas was an instant hit
Bake Off’s first ever all-male presenting duo looks highly promising. New recruit Matt Lucas replaced Sandi Toksvig at Noel Fielding’s side and proceeded to thoroughly steal the show.
He took centre-stage right from the start, donning a blonde wig to uncannily impersonate Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the bold opening skit.
He burst into song, cracked gags and balanced various kitchen utensils on his head. He ate everything in sight, confessed his dietary guilty pleasures and waved to autistic boy Josh at home. He poked fun at himself and the bakers, lightening the mood when things got fraught or tearful.
He was a warm, wise and hilarious presence who could just prove an inspired piece of casting. Computer says yes. Want that one. Other Little Britain catchphrases.
Well that was a deeply enjoyable Bake Off. Well done @RealMattLucas too.
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) September 22, 2020
God I love Bake Off. Already thrilled with @RealMattLucas addition. #GBBO
— Sali Hughes (@salihughes) September 22, 2020
Matt Lucas confirming his National Treasure status #GBBO pic.twitter.com/CkMrkOSWCp
— Simon London (@slondonuk) September 22, 2020
Dropped cake started series with a splat
'Bake Off in a bubble' got off to a dramatic start with the first dropped bake of the series. While wafting a rogue fly away from her miniature pineapple upside-down cakes, Sura’s flapping arm accidentally knocked rival Dave’s cakes out of his hands and onto the tent floor. He was gutted. She was in tears - and felt even more guilty when she was promptly crowned winner of the technical challenge.
It was like stolen custard-gate back in series four or the Binned Alaska scandal from series five all over again. Halcyon days. We love it when bakes go brilliantly. But my word, it makes for cracking TV when they go horribly wrong.
The drama. Forget the global pandemic #GBBO pineapplecakegate is the most dramatic thing to happen in 2020.
— Claire ✌🏼🎾 (@brooksybradshaw) September 22, 2020
🙁 #GBBO pic.twitter.com/LMKiA1ogL3
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
Loriea first out but Marc had lucky escape
Nobody wants to be sent home first - especially after lockdown and quarantine - but somebody had to accept the wooden spoon of doom.
This year it was Loriea Campbell-Clare, the 27-year-old diagnostic radiographer from Durham with a strangely squeaky sneeze. She deserves clapping as a key worker but her bakes didn't prove worthy of applause. Paul Hollywood said Loriea had talent but tried too hard, overbaking and over-flavouring her efforts.
Poor Loriea struggled in all three rounds, with a bone-dry Battenburg, bottom three in the technical and an over-spiced showstopper that nearly blew the judges’ heads off. Her cause wasn’t helped by her choosing to create a cake bust of Jamaican poet Louise Bennett-Coverley, aka “Miss Lou”, with whom few inside the tent were familiar - and who came out looking more like Dobby the house elf from Harry Potter.
Still, Loriea can count herself unlucky, since Cornish sculptor Marc Elliott was arguably as bad, if not worse. I’ve seen many better Davie Bowie lookalikes at primary school dress-up days.
Awh, I’m genuinely sad that Loriea left in week one! I thought given more time she’d have brought a lot... #GBBO
— iSte (@_iSte2202) September 22, 2020
Going out in the first week of #GBBO is always sad. All the bakers who go on the show are great at at least one thing, and not getting to show that thing is a real shame. Great work Loriea!
— Richard Burr (@RichardPBurr) September 22, 2020
We’re so sad to see you go, Loriea. It’s never easy being the first to depart, but you can hold your head up very high. It’s been wonderful having you in the tent! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/4rxNNSTx5r
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
Peter the prodigy crowned first Star Baker
This year’s youngest contestant, 20-year-old Edinburgh student Peter Sawkins, is part of the “Bake Off generation”. It was watching the show that first inspired him to get into the kitchen aged 12 . He’s watched every series since, becoming quite the superfan.
His devoted study paid off. He borrowed series three champion John Whaite’s “cake-listening” trick. He was precise, calm and collected, giving equal priority to flavour and decoration. He was consistent throughout all three rounds and was seriously rivalled only by Hermine and Sura for Star Baker. Could we be looking at the contest’s youngest ever champion in nine weeks’ time? His hero Sir Chris Hoy was a serial winner, after all.
Great job Peter, thanks for choosing me! 😁👍🏻👍🏻 https://t.co/62Hhwz48U3
— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) September 22, 2020
Well deserved Peter 👏🏻 I’m also glad Linda has survived to see another week #GBBO
— Joseph Ross 🇬🇧 🏳️🌈 (@jobieowen) September 22, 2020
I already have a favourite and it is Peter. Mostly because he saw someone listen to cakes 8 seasons ago and decided that seemed like a good plan #GBBO #TeamPeter
— Naomi Peach (@bestpeachbyfar) September 22, 2020
He baked. He listened. He won. Well done to Peter - our Cake Week Star Baker! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/YrI65f0PXi
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
Pandemic? What pandemic?
It’s something of a marzipan-wrapped miracle that Bake Off made it to our screens at all during this deeply weird year. Yet thanks to the Herculean efforts of the production team in creating a bio-secure bubble, and the sacrifice of cast and crew in isolating themselves for six weeks, it was back where it belonged.
This triumphant and frequently hilarious opening episode demonstrated that all the hard work was worth it. Its much-needed, eagerly awaited return came as a soothing balm after a deeply strange six months. Transported back to the fabled tent, it was easy to forget there was a global health crisis happening in the outside world.
Indeed, its sole impact here was to delay the show’s start for 15 minutes while Boris Johnson addressed the nation. Otherwise it was back to business as usual. Good bake.
I can't believe this is only the series premiere, because I would go as far as saying that this is one of the single best episodes of Bake Off ever #GBBO pic.twitter.com/Hcek6ewL0r
— sᴜᴘᴇʀ ᴛᴠ (@superTV247) September 22, 2020
I’m loving #GBBO - they just need to make a vaccine out of it and save the world
— Jenny Eclair (@jennyeclair) September 22, 2020
So excited for Bursting The Bubble: Bake Off After Dark #GBBO
— Lauren Bravo (@laurenbravo) September 22, 2020
Do you think they intentionally announced the restrictions before #GBBO so we could all seek the warm embrace of the bake off .. ie sugar, cake and the witty banter 🤔😂🧁🍰🥧🎂🍪🍩🍮🥮☕🥐🥨 #isitacoincidence #BakeOff #gbbo2020
— Rosebud (@Call_me_Rosebud) September 22, 2020
“I haven’t practiced in this cake tray cos it took 3 weeks to arrive” 2020 in a sentence #gbbo #gbbo2020
— Julia Graham Ⓥ (@juliamarygraham) September 22, 2020
Cake-heads task was ingenious and hilarious
For their debut showstopper challenge, the bakers had to create a cake bust of their hero. Whoever on the production team came up with this idea, take a bow. It’s the sort of challenge which they usually set on Celebrity Bake Off but drafting it into the “civilian version was an inspired move.
Not many of the busts looked terribly recognisable - Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and Miss Lou might be consulting their lawyers if they were still alive - but it made for excellent entertainment.
I think I might go into labour with how hard I’m laughing at these. They’re all dreadful #GBBO #Bakeoff #Bakeoff2020 #GBBO2020
— Jennifer Brown (@jenandmylo) September 22, 2020
A Bob Marley cake that doesn't have jam in? #gbbo
— Nick Walker (@nickw84) September 22, 2020
Why on earth would you ask a bunch of people who can’t make an evenly sliced battenburg to create LIVING OFFENDABLE HUMANS from cake? #BakeOff
— That Elise (@pageantmalarkey) September 22, 2020
Hello there, the angel from my nightmares pic.twitter.com/tKethha1JM
— Tom Neenan (@TNeenan) September 22, 2020
#GBBO saves 2020. Best opening episode ever. Matt Lucas. Mak’s Bill Bryson, Lottie’s LOUIS THEROUX
— Zoe Ball (@ZoeTheBall) September 22, 2020
VERY excited to be a cake. If only I could eat myself. 🤔 https://t.co/b3Wr7zfweG
— Louis Theroux (@louistheroux) September 22, 2020
One of the most terrifying show stoppers on Bake Off. Ever. #GBBO #GreatBritishBakeOff pic.twitter.com/E4m9viTwQJ
— Sangita Lal (@sangitalal) September 22, 2020
Camaraderie came to the fore
The mutually supportive atmosphere inside the tent and the friendships that form between bakers has always been one of the Bake Off’s secret ingredients. This might have been a hectic, high-pressure first episode but it was still in evidence.
Laura and Lottie conferred about lumpy Battenburg batter. Helping hands were offered to bakers who were running out of time. Everyone rallied around Dave and Sura over fly swat-gate, and Sura again when her Sir David Attenborough cake bust flopped over. This was Bake Off back to its heartwarming best.
What I like about this series of Bake Off is that it's still kind and lovely but whoever loses gets thrown out into a pandemic hellscape. It's like the Hunger Games with battenburg #GBBO#gbbo2020
— Sinéad O'Connor (@sineadei) September 22, 2020
Next week’s episode takes the biscuit
Next Tuesday, it’s crunch time with Biscuit Week. Join us back at telegraph.co.uk to dissect all the pastry-snapping, tea-dunking action.
There’s also companion show An Extra Slice at 8pm Fridays on Channel 4, featuring unseen footage and an interview with each week's eliminated baker. In the meantime, to adapt the Strictly sign-off: keeeeeeeep baking!
09:06 PMWeek one action in full
Week one action in full
Here’s your bake-by-bake rewind of the first episode…
08:45 PMCredits roll on triumphant reutrn
Credits roll on triumphant reutrn
Phew. That concludes the action on-screen but don’t go anywhere just yet. Please stay with us for analysis and social media reaction…
08:42 PMLoriea is sent home
Loriea is sent home
Twelve have become 11. Poor Loriea Campbell-Clare, the 27-year-old diagnostic radiographer from Durham, becomes the first baker to be eliminated. Fair enough, since she struggled in all three rounds, but it must have been a close call between her and Marc. He looked shocked to survive. Understandably so.
She joins the likes of Imelda McCarron, Peter Abatan, Pastor Lee Banfield, Stu Henshall and Dan Chambers in Bake Off’s “first out” hall of shame. And if you can recall any of those, you deserve a cake in the shape of a celebrity’s misshapen head.
Here are lovely Loriea’s best bits from her sadly short but sweet time in the tent. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/rvgSWdJODq
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
08:41 PMPeter is crowned Star Baker
Peter is crowned Star Baker
Bless his baby face. 20-year-old Edinburgh student Peter Sawkins is deservedly crowned this year’s first Star Baker. The youngster has had a dream debut, excelling in all three rounds. We’ve got a baking prodigy on our hands. God, I feel old.
08:41 PMTime for the result
Time for the result
Hold tight, we’re about to find out who's leaving the contest first.
08:39 PMMarc or Loriea for the chop?
Marc or Loriea for the chop?
They’ve struggled in all three rounds. It’s surely between this pair for the first elimination.
Marc’s David Bowie needs some serious ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, while Lorelei’s Miss Lou is so spicy, it nearly takes Paul Hollywood’s head off. Hey, at least we’d have a Paul bust to join the rest.
08:38 PMJudgement time for the mutant celebrity heads
Judgement time for the mutant celebrity heads
It’s like there’s been a fire at Madame Tussauds and all the waxworks have melted. Laura’s Freddie Mercury has gone completely Radio Gaga but the judges declare him delicious. Meanwhile, Marc's David Bowie looks more like Jabba The Hutt, as he ruefully admits.
Noel Fielding might “fancy” Hermine’s curvy Lupita Nyong’o cake but it looks nothing like her. At least it tastes fabulous, though.
In happier news, Linda might just have redeemed herself with her tasty Bob Marley cake (Sponge Bob, Square Pants not included).
Peter has cheated lightly by cunningly going for Sir Chris Hoy in his cycling helmet and sunglasses, swerving the need to sculpt tricky features like hair or eyes. However his light sponge is delicious and the judges love it. He looks a good bet for Star Baker at this stage. And he’s only about 12. His mum will be proud.
No woman, no cry.
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
No mouth, no sing.#GBBO pic.twitter.com/qveiXUzpYd
I want to bake free. #BakeOff #GBBO pic.twitter.com/2YB0Nqb7Yf
— Morgan Jeffery (@morganjeffery) September 22, 2020
08:33 PMFetch help, David Attenborough’s had a fall
Fetch help, David Attenborough’s had a fall
Time might be up but the drama’s not over. As she’s outside the tent, Sura realises that her Sir David Attenborough bust is falling over in slow-motion (divine justice for fly-gate, perhaps?).
“I never run!” she shouts as she dashes to his rescue. He’s now propped up on a travel cushion. Well, he is 94. He’s earned a nap.
It’s our public duty to run to the need of Sir David Attenborough if he ever needs us. In cake and in life. ❤️ #GBBO pic.twitter.com/0mch0IyhJL
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
08:27 PMLet them eat rice paper
Let them eat rice paper
Rowan's choux bun hairpiece for Marie Antoinette isn’t rising, though. Looks like he’ll need to improvise again.
08:26 PMFreddie Mercury’s head explodes
Freddie Mercury’s head explodes
Laura has done a great job on the Queen singer’s jacket but his head? Not so much. We will, we will, rock cake you.
08:26 PMDavid Bowie’s cracking up
David Bowie’s cracking up
Marc’s coconut Ziggy Stardust - or is it Aladdin Sane? - is falling apart before our different-coloured eyes.
08:16 PMRowan has come prepared again
Rowan has come prepared again
He had a perspex mould in the signature, fashioned from an old CD case (remember those, kids?). Now Rowan’s using a silicon mould mask to help his Marie Antoinette cake take shape. Must have been a boy scout in his youth. Dib dib, dob dob, dough dough.
08:15 PMRogue’s gallery of celebrities
Rogue’s gallery of celebrities
This is like the most random dinner party ever. We’ve got four musical heroes in David Bowie, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury and, ahem, the bloke from Blink 182.
They’re joined by a VIP guestlist of David Attenborough, Louis Theroux, Charles Darwin, Chris Hoy, Marie Antoinette, Bill Bryson, Lupita Nyong’o and Jamaican poet Louise Bennett-Coverley, aka “Miss Lou”.
Quite an eclectic bunch, to say the least.
2020, when a cake bust of Charles Darwin seems perfectly normal. #GBBO
— Chica Lolita (@ChicaLolita) September 22, 2020
Oh God... the poor lady that has consistently flopped is going Bob Marley cake 😂 I cant watch 🤦🏾♀️ #GBBO
— Black Lives Matter (@Trinajc_) September 22, 2020
I really hope Lottie's cake is underbaked, just so they can say "It's not cooked Theroux."#GBBO pic.twitter.com/xOzLc9cjFr
— Phlegm Clandango (@Cain_Unable) September 22, 2020
Never say that Bake Off isn’t educational. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/SXUU87GcVd
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
08:10 PMShowstopper round should be a cracker
Showstopper round should be a cracker
*rubs floury hands with glee* For their make-or-break showstopper, the bakers must create a cake bust of their hero. Whoever came up with this idea, take a bow. It’s the sort of challenge which they usually do on the Celebrity Bake Off but why not draft it in here?
08:05 PMTrio in trouble
Trio in trouble
Marc, Linda and Loriea came bottom three in the technical. After they all had a weak signature round too, the pressure is on.
08:03 PMSura wins the technical
Sura wins the technical
With her excellent piping and well-balanced flavours, Sura finishes in first place. She looks terribly guilty about it, though.
Peter is narrowly beaten into second and has stormed both rounds so far. A potential Star Baker, surely.
Well done to Sura - our first Technical Challenge winner of the series. Please hold your head high - accidents happen. And our Bake Off Fly knows a damn fine cake when he sees one! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/HGley9cqGd
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
Even after the cake hit the floor, it still looks better than Linda's #gbbo2020 #GBBO
— ⋆ 𝑯𝒂𝒛𝒆 Ψ ⋆ (@YumenHaze) September 22, 2020
08:00 PMAll’s well that ends well
All’s well that ends well
Two of Dave’s cakes are intact and it’s smoothed over with the judges that they’ll judge him on those. Phew.
Noel jokingly blames it on Matt, who agrees that Sura must have been hypnotised by his beauty. Hey, she’s only human.
Good news - Dave’s effort is being judged on a surviving cake. No damage done by the unfortunate mishap. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/RTUSO2uJvY
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
Much like those cakes, I’m FLOORED. OMG. I GASPED. #GBBO #BakeOff
— Joe (@JoeWritesThings) September 22, 2020
Bet he's thinking "I left my pregnant partner FOR SEVEN WEEKS to have my cakes end up on the floor?" #GBBO
— Steph (@wuthering_alice) September 22, 2020
07:55 PMDoh! Or should that be Dough?
Doh! Or should that be Dough?
Disaster! Drama! Pesky insects! While shooing a fly away from her cakes, Sura’s flapping arms accidentally knock Dave’s cakes out of his hands and onto the tent floor.
She’s in tears. He’s gutted. This is like custard-gate (series four) or the Binned Alaska scandal (series five) all over again.
I’m getting flashbacks!! #gbbo #bakeoff pic.twitter.com/KRRVwprOM3
— Natalie Walker (@Nataliemwalker) September 22, 2020
Accidents happen - poor Dave and poor Sura. And spare a thought for the tent carpet too! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/S4s4oqCyMt
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
We need the Bake Off Fly in custardy right away! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/2SWlP56Q4j
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
The silent and subtle flash of rage on Dave’s face when his tray was knocked out his hand. Priceless #GBBO #gbbo2020
— Ben Bierton (@benscoop) September 22, 2020
07:54 PMGingham altar of truth
Gingham altar of truth
Actually, some of them look rather good. Colour me surprised.
07:52 PMIt’s technical carnage in the tent
It’s technical carnage in the tent
Caramel is burning. Sura is gurning. Dave has welded his hot saucepan to his weighing scales. Marc has forgotten to butter his moulds. Linda’s cakes have sunk. The judging could be… interesting.
07:48 PMTricky technical turns bakers upside down
Tricky technical turns bakers upside down
This year’s first peep under the fabled gingham cloth for the technical challenge. The bakers have 90 minutes to make six miniature pineapple upside-down cakes. Worryingly, few of them ever seem to have eaten one.
07:46 PMHermine and Peter set the early pace
Hermine and Peter set the early pace
Young pup Peter’s dark chocolate orange cake gets the judges cooing with pleasure. The other big hit is Hermine’s chocolate orange and marmalade number. We can spot a theme here. Just serve up a Terry's Chocolate Orange, you'll be fine.
07:45 PMDozen judged for the first time
Dozen judged for the first time
First judgely tasting of the series, as Prudence and Paulette wield their cake forks. Lottie’s rhubarb and custard cake, boldly presented in a giant sweet wrapper, looks better than it tastes.
Marc, Linda and Loriea all misfire. Bad start for the trio. Rowan had to scale back his plans and presents a “deconstructed temple” but gets away with it.
07:38 PMTime is up
Time is up
The poor lambs look shellshocked. Welcome to the tent, you plucky people.
07:35 PMRowan's body is a temple
Rowan's body is a temple
Unfortunately, his temple cake doesn't have much body. He's finishing it off in the microwave. What would Mary Berry say?
THIS IS NOT THE GREAT BRITISH MICROWAVE OFF! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/YBPvnunfHf
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
07:32 PMLinda’s tasty tribute
Linda’s tasty tribute
This year’s oldest contestant, 61-year-old Linda from East Sussex, is baking an Ambulance Battenberg in honour of her paramedic cousin, who sadly passed away recently. How lovely.
07:31 PMSura and Rowan make an early impression
Sura and Rowan make an early impression
“I’m so over cake.” “You might be on the wrong show.” Pharmacy dispenser Sura looks like an amusing character - quite spiky and sarcastic. She also seems to take her cat for a walk on a lead, which is… unusual.
Dapper music teacher Rowan is also entertainingly eccentric with his cake based on Mozart’s Magic Flute. With 13 sections of sponge, though, has he bitten off more than he can bake?
Rowan's description of his Magic Flute Battenberg is everything I needed this evening. #GBBO
— Dr Kirsty Fairclough FRSA (@DrKFairclough) September 22, 2020
07:28 PMListen with Peter
Listen with Peter
This year’s youngest baker, 20-year-old student Peter from Edinburgh, informs us that he “listens” to his cakes to work out whether they’re baked properly - a trick he learnt from watching series three winner John Whaite. Watch you don’t burn your ear, Peter.
07:27 PMOn your Marks
On your Marks
Confusion will surely reign due to the fact that this year’s line-up includes a Mak, a Mark and a Marc.
Matt decides to solve this by calling Marc “Hamish” instead. Clear as mud? Goodo.
07:25 PMBubblegum and cream soda, anyone?
Bubblegum and cream soda, anyone?
Loriea, the diagnostic radiographer from Durham, is going for a sickly-sounding combination with bright blue marzipan. The judges don’t look convinced and frankly, neither are we.
Meanwhile, armoured guard Dave is going for an Espresso Martini cake with vodka marzipan (a boozy Bake Off first).
07:24 PMHas he got noodles for you
Has he got noodles for you
New host Matt Lucas gets into the swing of things with a riff about how he was the palate of a nine-year-old and loves “Confirmed Bachelor’s Supernoodles”.
He’s not gay full-time, you understand, he just helps them out at weekends.
10 minutes in and @RealMattLucas is already a triumph on Bake Off!#gbbo2020
— Paul Bowley (@ThePaulBowley) September 22, 2020
07:21 PM“On your marks” gag that got him the gig
“On your marks” gag that got him the gig
We’e reliably informed that Noel and Matt’s opening interplay is what helped Matt pass his screen test with flying colours and secure the coveted gig.
You can’t fault Matt Lucas’s enthusiasm in his new role! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/OiVNfoolbq
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
07:20 PMForget Batman Begins, this is Battenburg begins
Forget Batman Begins, this is Battenburg begins
Down to business with the signature bake. For their first ever challenge in the tent of dreams, this year’s dozen have to hours to whip up what Prue calls “every marzipan’s favourite cake” - the four-panel light sponge cake that originated in the late 19th century and became a teatime classic.
07:20 PMSame old credits
Same old credits
Comfortingly familiar. That little girl is probably in her late teens by now. Still one raspberry missing from that chocolate cake, though.
07:19 PMNoticed the different backdrop?
Noticed the different backdrop?
As the camera sweeps over the bucolic treetops, that reminds us. For the first time in seven years, this series wasn’t filmed at picturesque pile Welford Park in Berkshire. The need for cast and crew to stay on-site in a "self-contained biosphere” meant the tent had to be pitched elsewhere.
Welcome to Down Hall Hotel in Essex - an Italianate hotel set in 110 acres of parkland near Bishop’s Stortford. Leave your thoroughly sanitised keys at reception. Honestly, you treat this place like a hotel.
07:18 PMHere comes the bakers and judges
Here comes the bakers and judges
“It’s the same old Bake Off. Familiar. Comforting. Lovely.” That’s Prue Leith expressing her hopes for the series that many feared wouldn’t happen. Sound good to us, dear Prudence.
07:17 PMOpening skit sees Matt Lucas spoof Boris
Opening skit sees Matt Lucas spoof Boris
We had inside word from Richard McKerrow - chief executive of programme-makers Love Productions and executive producer of Bake Off - that the show kicked off with a slightly political comic moment. “That was an interesting conversation with Channel 4!” he told us. “But our approach was ‘If we can’t have one little laugh after the year everyone’s been through, life’s not worth living.’”
Well, there it was. Matt Lucas did an uncanny Boris Johnson impression in a spoof press conference, with the slogan on his podium: Stay Alert, Protect Cake. Save Loaves.
Curd immunity? #GBBO pic.twitter.com/Sr3FCzssEb
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
I’ve been really looking forward to seeing @RealMattLucas on Bake Off, but opening with this long Boris Johnson impression is a bold move even for him.
— Chris Addison (@mrchrisaddison) September 22, 2020
Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t be any stranger… #GBBO pic.twitter.com/eIQqXRwjXT
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
Now that’s a start to #GBBO pic.twitter.com/fHoIy4KvQz
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) September 22, 2020
Was it me or was the @RealMattLucas announcement more informative than the Boris one? 🤔 😎😳 @BritishBakeOff #baking #BakeOff #GBBO #gbbo2020 #GBBOTwitterBakeAlong
— Paul Vine (@Paul_Vine1) September 22, 2020
07:15 PMAnd we’re off!
And we’re off!
Ah, that feels better already. Boris has spoken. Now Bake Off is back. Anyone else got a sudden hankering for a massive slice of cake? Consider it extended lockdown medication.
07:10 PMDiverse dozen are limbering up
Diverse dozen are limbering up
A radiographer, a sculptor, a music teacher, a panto producer and an armoured guard are among the 12 amateur bakers competing in the bunfight this time. There’s also the prospect of the first ever paraplegic contestant.
Mere minutes to wait now…
07:05 PMExtended shows for first few weeks
Extended shows for first few weeks
Before the field gets whittled down a bit, Bake Off’s running time has been extended to 90 minutes for the first three episodes. After that, it will be slimmed down to the usual 75 minutes.
Ten minutes until those tent-flaps open…
Butter late than never. At long last, The Great British Bake Off returns to our screens at 8.15pm on @Channel4 tonight! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/D72zBaFLsu
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
07:02 PMWhat no bunting, Boris?
What no bunting, Boris?
The Prime Minister has a patriotic Union Flag in the background but come on, he could have got into the spirit of things with some Bake Off-style bunting draped around 10 Downing Street. Perhaps a Magimix on his desk.
06:59 PMNew presenter? Thank you, baked potato
New presenter? Thank you, baked potato
Co-host Noel Fielding has a new playmate this series in the unmistakable shape of 46-year-old comedian and actor Matt Lucas - best known for sketch show Little Britain, his early work with Reeves and Mortimer, and as companion Nardole in Doctor Who.
Lucas also became a lockdown hero after releasing a reworked version of his "Baked Potato Song" from Shooting Stars, with all proceeds going towards the Feed NHS campaign.
He replaces Sandi Toksvig after her three-year stint and, alongside Noel, forms the show’s first ever all-male presenting duo. How will he fit in? Fifteen minutes until we find out…
Trying to sit down on the sofa to watch Bake Off when you’re overwhelmed with excitement. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/KndJiVTNOU
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
06:55 PMBake Off versus Boris
Bake Off versus Boris
PH (Paul Hollywood) will not clash with the PM’s statement this evening. Boris Johnson’s address to the nation airs at 8pm and Bake Off will be delayed until he’s finished his speech, instead starting at the slightly later-than-scheduled time of 8.15pm. Insert satirical jokes about “Eton Mess” here.
Oh and those previous nine winners you were trying to remember? In chronological order, they were Edd Kimber, Joanne Wheatley, John Whaite, Frances Quinn, Nancy Birtwhistle, Nadiya Hussain, Candice Brown, Sophie Faldo and Rahul Mandal. How many could you name? Five is a respectable score, I reckon.
Twenty minutes now until tent-based showtime...
Anyone else unspeakably excited about #GBBO just for some comfort, silliness, normalcy and joy? 💕🍰🎂🥧🍞🥮
— polly kelly (@pollykeaton) September 22, 2020
06:40 PMEleventh (count ‘em!) series starts
Eleventh (count ‘em!) series starts
This is the 11th series of Bake Off and the fourth in its new(ish) home of Channel 4. Who will follow reigning champion *checks notes* David Atherton to glass cake-stand glory?
At 8.15pm (slightly later than advertised), we’ll get our first sweet-toothed clues. Start those sweepstakes and make those wild predictions.
And if you want to limber up with a little Bake Off memory game while we wait, see how many of the nine Bake Off champions before current incumbent David you can remember. I'll give you the answer shortly...
All pud things are worth waiting for. Join us tonight at the slightly later time of 8.15pm on @Channel4 for the return of The Great British Bake Off! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/ArK40iVzaO
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
06:29 PMBake Off is back on
Bake Off is back on
Pandemic? Pah. The Great British Bake Off simply found a way around the problem, made copious cups of tea, kept calm and carried on. Thanks to programme-makers Love Productions ingeniously creating a bio-secure environment at an Essex hotel for six weeks, the beloved bake-athon is able to rise again.
We’re reliably informed that viewers won’t notice the difference for this 11th series, which arrives on our screens a mere month - and 15 minutes, thanks to some pesky Prime Ministerial speech - later than usual.
No need for social distancing inside the bubble means consolatory cuddles and Hollywood handshakes can still be doled out with impunity. The main difference is that we have a new co-host with Matt Lucas replacing Sandi Toksvig.
I’m Michael, your floury-handed guide for tonight’s cakey curtain-raiser. Reset your oven timers because it’s now showtime at 8.15pm and I’ll be liveblogging from 7.30pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, social media reaction and sarky asides.
Please join me and join in too. You can email me on michael.hogan@ telegraph.co.uk, tweet me on @michaelhogan or leave comments at the bottom of this blog. I'll keep an eye on them all and report the highlights here.
It promises to be the strangest but most welcome series ever. On your marks, get set… Wait for it… Bake!
The Great British Bake Off has now been moved to 8.15pm tonight on @Channel4! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/rkurLYwt8c
— MATT LUCAS (@RealMattLucas) September 22, 2020