The new series of our beloved Great British Bake Off is returning to our TV screens tonight (26 September), with 12 new amateur bakers ready to whip up a storm in the iconic tents. While we'll also welcome Prue Leith, Paul Hollywood and Noel Fielding, former GBBO host Matt Lucas will no longer be on the show.
The Little Britain comedian, 49 announced his exit from the hit Channel 4 show in December last year, following a three year stint co-hosting alongside Noel Fielding. Stepping in as his replacement is This Morning's Alison Hammond who will make her debut tonight, much to the delight of fans.
During an interview on Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show earlier this year, Matt explained the reason why he wouldn't be returning to host GBBO. Sharing that he'd "quit" in order to prioritise work in a new venture with Little Britain co-star David Walliams.
"Me and David Walliams have started writing together again," he explained. "We just thought it was time, so we quit our jobs and decided to do that."
Providing a hint of what we can expect from his first post-Bake Off project, Matt said: "It will be a show with us playing lots of characters. But we have to write the treatment for it and we have to go and pitch it and see if anyone wants to make it." Watch this space.
Pure Leith spoke out about Matt's busy schedule and said: "If [you're] close to Matt, you do know that he never stops working and he has so many projects and people keep asking him to do things and he loves theatre…" she said. "He absolutely loves that kind of show."
She continued: "And you can't commit to it if you're on Bake Off, because we film that all summer. So I think he thought three years is enough. But I think he loved it and we're really sorry."
Alison Hammond shared her excitement about joining this year's GBBO as Matt's replacement and wrote on X, formally known as Twitter: "The new series of @BritishBakeOff is back with a new addition- Meeee !! I just can’t wait for You to meet the bakers, they are incredible. Coming soon on @Channel4."
This year's bakers all have different strengths and interests, with GBBO also welcoming its first ever deaf contestant, Tasha, 27 who will be competing alongside her BSL interpreter, Daryl. Speaking about her reaction after finding out she'd made the lineup, Tasha said: "When I had the Zoom call to tell me I was one of the 12, I cried. Daryl also cried. We were a mess."
Noel, Alison, Prue and Paul have all been busy learning BSL ahead of Tasha's time on the show. GBBO returns tonight (Tuesday, 26 September) on Channel 4 at 7pm.
Source: Read Full Article
