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It makes no sense. A series about muffins and quick breads should put everyone to sleep. But I count the days until the next episode of “The Great British Bake-Off” like I used to wait for the newest Beatles song. For an hour, I’m transported from tense America to the “baking tent,” amid the bucolic English countryside. What’s so fascinating about a show featuring frosting, fondant, and egg yolks? Maybe its these three things…

It requires skill – The competition begins with twelve bakers, coming from all parts of England, and each week, someone’s eliminated. These people — all ages, races, and religions – are crazy good. They sculpt animals from sponge cake. They knead and pound and wait with worried faces for focaccia breads to rise. They construct castles and farms and apartment houses using chocolate ganache.

There are three rounds — the Signature Challenge (doing what they do best), the Showcase (give us all you got) and the dreaded Technical Challenge. There, the contestants work from a never-seen-before recipe to make an obscure dessert most have never heard of (a Puits d’amour?). All are given the same ingredients except they’re not told how much to use or how long to bake. But they do it and most do it well.

Its British! – The English are so chipper, upbeat, and cheeky, even in defeat. No sharp elbows here, and everyone helps each other when possible. I love the two judges – elegant Prue Leith and steely-eyed Paul Hollywood. “It’s under-proofed, that,” he likes to say with his Cheshire swagger.

Each competition starts with the words, “Ready! Set! Bake!” called out by the two eccentric hosts, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas. Both are strange-looking guys, at least to me, and with their colorful clothing and quirkiness, look like extras for “Beetlejuice.” They do the rounds, asking what everyone’s creating, making funny, sometimes inappropriate comments, which everyone (more or less) laughs at. Somehow it works.

It’s an escape – The baking tent, where all this happens, is always placed on the grounds of a huge, gorgeous English manor. Ponds teem with quacking ducks, and fat sheep graze in the distance. You can almost smell the rising dinner rolls and gingerbread cookies. There’s an innocence, almost a hearkening back to childhood with heaps of cookies (“biscuits” as the British say), vanilla custards, and buttery fruit pastries.

The biggest problem is whether Judge Paul will give a contestant his handshake – the highest compliment – or when one of these smiling, plucky people go home. The only time the British stiff upper lip vanishes is when a much-beloved contestant says goodbye to hugs and tears.

The last episode has everyone’s families over for a picnic on the grounds as the “Greatest British Baker” is announced. (Yes, it is suspenseful. Okay, not for everyone).

Call me an old softie, but I love this world of strawberry tarts, brownies, and cupcakes. Right now, I need it more than ever.

 

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Comments(22)

  1. Oh, living in England – this is brilliant and made me laugh!
    I don’t think we have been called ‘chipper, upbeat and cheeky’ before!
    And I am trying to imagine a castle made from chocolate ganache!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Jennie, I love anything British and this show is right up there. Of course, now I’m obsessed with the latest season of “The Crown.”

  2. We don’t watch much American TV when I think about it.
    We are going through the dramas of Married at First Sight Australia at the moment (the only programme our 13 year old son will watch with us :O)
    We watch the crazy and sometimes horrific (these days) dramas of Neighbours!
    Then we are into Canadian drama (sorry!) Goodwitch and now Heartland. We get can’t enough ranches, horses, and fisty cuffs between the cowboys! And the scenery is staggeringly stunning. And the light to my sensitive eyes is magical. 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Jennie, I’ll have to look into those shows. They sound great!

  3. It sounds delightful and I haven’t but I’m going to look for it now.
    Although it may result in additional pound-age…

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Diane, Thank God, I have no baking talent so there’s no worry of that for me (at least with the show).

  4. I’ve watched every one of the past seasons in like you wait with anxious anticipation for each new episode

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Carol, We’re almost at the end of the latest season and can’t wait to see who wins!

    • karen gibson

    • 3 years ago

    Love this show. There’s a feeling of comfort watching the bakers. The way it’s staged is beautiful.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Karen, Yes, there is something comforting about it. I agree, its staging is part of the appeal. If it took place in a hot, sweaty kitchen, it would lose a lot of it pizzazz.

  5. There have been shows that I’ve felt like that for. I do love to watch Pioneer Woman and Girl Meets Farm, but then other shows like Survivor and Anything about Alaska.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Rena, Never heard of some of those. Girl Meets Farm sounds interesting.

  6. I am addicted to this show too! And I am not a baker. Nor does this how make me want to bake. But every Friday night I am glad there is a new episode to watch because I already binge watched all the previous seasons. I am not crazy about the new co-host though. I love Noel but this other guy? Not so much.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Lauren, To me, both hosts are strange. Noel looks like he should be in some creepy goth movie. Still, I’m like you. Have no interest in baking but like watching.

  7. I SO love baking shows where people are civil to one another. Raised voices just make me curl up and hide. Always have. Always will.
    Here’s where I admit that the biggest threat for me is batter that looks (and usually is) delicious. And yes, I know the dangers posed by uncooked eggs v. salmonella). Mmmm . . .

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Diane, I love the batter! And I’m the same way, raised voices and anger make me want to curl up and hide.

  8. I love it. I binged on 80 in a few weeks once.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Carol, Sounds like fun!

  9. Okay, YOU got me started…

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Diane, You should try it. I’d bet you’d love it.

  10. Gahhh! I love this show! But the cravings afterward!!!!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 months ago

      Diane, Yes! Especially bread week and chocolate!

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