Great British Bake Off 2023 LIVE — Alison Hammond makes hosting debut as she admits first show jitters
THE GREAT British Bake Off has returned with Alison Hammond making her show debut alongside co-presenter Noel.
Matt Lucas, who fronted the show alongside Noel Fielding, said he could no longer host alongside his other projects - but Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith also returned to judge the new batch of contestants' incredible creations.
Speaking about the new series, told her colleagues, she got the "jitters" when she entered the tent for the first time.
She said: "I'm gonna be honest, I have never been that nervous."
Alison added: "If you think of the bigger pictures, you think this is a global show, I don’t want to ruin this. And I could you know, I’m a little bit risky!"
The new series of The Great British Bake Off continues at 8pm on Tuesday nights on Channel 4.
Read our live blog below for the latest news and updates...
Who was last night's star baker?
Last night it was up to Alison to reveal who got Star Baker.
The coveted weekly gong went to Dan!
He looked thrilled, and called the moment “surreal”.
Who is in the cast of Great British Bake Off?
The new series of Bake Off brings with it a brand new batch of contestants – which includes the show’s first ever deaf person.
The full GBBO 2023 line-up is:
- Abbi, 27, is a veg grower and delivery driver from Cumbria.
- Amos, 43, is a deli and grocery manager from North London.
- Cristy, 33, is a mum and PA from East London.
- Dan, 42, is a civil engineer from Cheshire.
- Dana, 25, is a database administrator from Essex.
- Josh, 27, is a post-doctoral research associate from Leicestershire.
- Keith, 60, is a chartered accountant from Hampshire.
- Matty, 28, is a PE and science teacher from Cambridgeshire.
- Nicky, 52, is a retired cabin crew member from the West Midlands.
- Rowan, 21, is a student from West Yorkshire.
- Saku, 50, is an intelligence analyst from Herefordshire.
- Tasha, 27, is a participation officer from Bristol.
What else does the Bake Off winner get?
Besides the flowers and cake stand, many of the Bake Off stars go on to earn massive sums of money through appearances, cookbooks and launching cooking schools.
Nadiya Hussain is undoubtedly the Bake Off’s greatest success story, and has since written various newspaper columns, fronted TV show The Chronicles Of Nadiya, released a best-selling cookbook and has been a guest presenter on Loose Women.
She was also selected to bake the late Queen Elizabeth's birthday cake when the monarch turned 90 in April 2016.
Series 12 winner Giuseppe Dell'Anno announced the release of his first cookbook in May 2022.
Dell'Anno managed to beat the competition to take home the 2021 trophy, and the book marks one of the baker's first ventures since being crowned the champion of the Channel 4 series.
What is the Great British Bake Off final prize money?
With all the drama, sweat and tears that the dedicated bakers go through on The Great British Bake Off, you’d expect they would be aiming for some grand cash prize, but the answer is no.
The winning prize is just flowers and a cake stand.
Previous Bake Off contestant Martha Collison, who reached the quarter-finals in the 2014 series, told : “Everyone is so surprised and thinks there must be some secret cash, but all we really get is a bunch of flowers and a cake stand.
“But then, you also kind of become a national treasure just by doing it because everyone in Britain loves the Bake Off so much.”
Dana is hoping to make the final
Dana’s passion for baking started at the age of 16 when she identified a gap in her family’s traditionally Indian culinary repertoire.
As a self-professed untidy baker, Dana would avoid stepping on her mum’s toes in the kitchen by catching the bus to her dad’s house to indulge her need to experiment with her bakes.
Now she has a kitchen of her own (and a cockapoo, Gracie, to clean up after her), Dana has become the family’s go-to celebration cake-maker. Her style is rustic and homely, but always pleasing to the eye.
She loves a semi-naked cake with neat lines, pretty piping and minimalist decoration; and although she likes to keep her flavours safe, Dana will often incorporate a twist or two, adding in familiar spices associated with her Indian heritage.
Dan is ready to get baking
Dan’s interest in cooking began when he went travelling in South America in 2007.
His particular loves are pies and puddings: before he and his wife bought their first home, they lived with his in-laws, during which time his mother-in-law taught him how to make perfect shortcrust pastry.
Subsequently, his passion for pies has evolved into a penchant for patisserie!
Perfectionist Dan loves a baking challenge and will often find the hardest bake in one of his many (more than 300!) cook books and start there, throwing everything he’s got at creating a masterpiece.
When he’s not baking, he loves to play football with his two young sons, work out in the gym, or forage for edible treats in the countryside around his home.
Cristy will be hoping she has what it takes to win
Life with four children means that, for Cristy, there always seems to be a birthday to bake for and an exciting party to plan.
She describes her baking style as enchanted and pretty – bakes that conjure up a sense of childhood.
Cakes are her speciality, and she draws flavour inspiration from her own Israeli heritage and from her husband’s Jamaican roots.
She is a dab hand with decoration and gets a thrill out of making sure the results look perfect.
Who has replaced Matt Lucas on GBBO?
In December 2022, Matt Lucas shocked fans when he revealed he had quit hosting Bake Off.
The comedian – who fronted the show alongside Noel Fielding – said he could no longer host it alongside his other projects.
Speaking to fans, he said: “Farewell Bake Off! It’s been a delicious experience and I can’t imagine a more fun way of spending my summers.
“But it’s become clear to me that I can’t present both Fantasy Football League and Bake Off alongside all my other projects.”
While Matt may have left, Noel continues to host the show.
He is joined by his new co-presenter Alison Hammond.
Who is in the cast of Great British Bake Off?
The new series of Bake Off brings with it a brand new batch of contestants – which includes the show’s first ever deaf person.
The full GBBO 2023 line-up is:
- Abbi, 27, is a veg grower and delivery driver from Cumbria.
- Amos, 43, is a deli and grocery manager from North London.
- Cristy, 33, is a mum and PA from East London.
- Dan, 42, is a civil engineer from Cheshire.
- Dana, 25, is a database administrator from Essex.
- Josh, 27, is a post-doctoral research associate from Leicestershire.
- Keith, 60, is a chartered accountant from Hampshire.
- Matty, 28, is a PE and science teacher from Cambridgeshire.
- Nicky, 52, is a retired cabin crew member from the West Midlands.
- Rowan, 21, is a student from West Yorkshire.
- Saku, 50, is an intelligence analyst from Herefordshire.
- Tasha, 27, is a participation officer from Bristol.
Who are the Bake Off hosts and judges?
For Bake Off 2023 the judges have remained the same, with Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith making the decisions as to who gets Star Baker and who leaves the tent each week.
There has though been a shake up of presenters after Matt Lucas quit the series.
However, popular presenter Noel Fielding is back to host the famous show, but he has a new co-host by his side - Alison Hammond.
Speaking about landing the plum Bake Off job, and how different it is to hosing This Morning, she told Channel 4: “It’s like being on holiday — it’s wonderful, free, and you feel safe.
“You don’t have to think politically about anything. It’s just a happy and safe show.”
Next week’s theme has been revealed!
So this week was Cake Week and next week is going to be Biscuit Week.
In a sneak peek to episode two, it looks like things get heated in the tent.
Especially when one baker pinches another’s biscuit dough!
And the first person to leave Bake Off…
Sadly Amos’ time in the famous tent came to an abrupt end.
Poor guy, no one wants to be first, and he looked so upset, with the other bakers rallying round him.
Sadly his Showstopper had a soggy bottom and it meant it was his time to leave.
Amos said: “‘It was obviously the Showstopper that stopped my show. As soon as I heard my name I came out of my body.
“It has been amazing being in that group of people walking into the tent on the first day, and that is softening the blow a little bit.”
He started crying, leaving fans at home also in tears.
Credit: PA And Star Baker goes to…
Tonight it was up to Alison to reveal who got Star Baker.
The coveted weekly gong went to Dan!
He looked thrilled, and called the moment "surreal".
Naughty Prue
Prue just won't let the beaver jokes end tonight.
As Nicky brought her creation up to the table, she couldn't help saying, "Nicky, tell us about your beaver!"
This had fans in stitches at home, with one saying: "I am dying! Prue!!"
(No) Whale of a time
Sadly Amos is not having much luck with his showstopper, which was a whale cake.
They called it "stodgy" and with "no flavour".
Prue then said, "it's not your best".
Doggie heaven
So far the judges are loving the doggie cakes.
Most of the bakers have recreated their family pets and Paul and Prue are loving tucking into them!
Dan's dog Bruno was a particular hit.
Good start
Cristy's duck cake has gone down well with the judges.
They absolutely loved the decoration.
When they cut it open the raspberry sponge was also a hit.
She was followed by Keith's dog cake and they loved that too.
The final judgement
The bakers are waiting nervously as Paul and Prue move round the famous white tent.
Could there showstopper win them the coveted Star Baker title?
Or will their baking disaster see them sent home first?
We will find out...
The cakes take shape
As time ticks on, some the cakes are really starting to look like animal creations.
Many of the bakers have opted to do dogs, but some of them have gone for more with flare.
But what will the judges think...
Not long left bakers!
With just an hour and a half to go, panic has really struck in the white tent.
Some of the cakes aren't coming out quite as expected.
Poor old Matty is having a nightmare again with his buttercream!
Poor Amos
After coming second in the technical, he is having a nightmare in the showstopper.
In fact his cake has just collapsed!
Fans at home are crying into their cup of tea for him, with one saying: "Oh no! Poor Amos!"
Another added: "Oh that poor guy! "
So far so good
Fans are loving Alison, but they haven’t forgotten about Matt Lucas.
On Twitter they are praising his replacement as being “born for this job”.
But don’t worry Matt you’re not forgotten - they do miss you too!
An almost handshake
Nicky just got a handshake from Paul, but sadly it wasn't quite golden one.
The baker got it for making a string of innuendos about her "boozy beaver" which made Mr Hollywood chuckle.
So she got a handshake for being funny!
Showstopper time!
And they are off.... the bakers have been given four hours to create their Showstopper cake.
They need to create a magnificent cake out of sponge and it must incorporate animals.
But who will be left with a soggy bottom....
Top spot
Dan came first in the first technical challenge of the series.
Amos came in second and looked thrilled.
Poor Dana got 12th place with Tasha in 11th - they both looked tearful.