Matt Lucas

10 things you might not know about The Great British Bake Off

Each series sees twelve amateur bakers attempt to out-bake their opponents and impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, with encouragement (/harassment) from the presenters, now comedian Noel Fielding and queen of daytime Alison Hammond.

With one of the highest average audiences of any programme in the UK (in 2016, nine of the top ten most-watched programmes of the year were episodes of the show), Bake Off has become a Great British institution.

Date set for the return of The Great British Bake Off

12 more amateur bakers will enter the tent under the beady eyes of judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, hoping to win them over and perhaps even receive the honour of a Hollywood handshake. Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding are also back to present and pester the contestants.

The usual schedule sees the field narrowed down to just three bakers by week 10, at which point the finalists will battle it out in the hopes of winning the glass cake stand.

Date set for the return of The Great British Bake Off

The first episode will air on Channel 4 on Tuesday 21 September at 8.00pm.

The announcement follows last week’s teaser video captioned “Loaf is in the air... The Great British Bake Off. Coming Soon.”

Dramatically scored, the short video shows the tent pitched once again in the grounds of Welford Park in Newbury, Berkshire.

Noel Fielding will return to host with Matt Lucas, who joined the team for the last edition.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will also return to judge the bakes, meaning the bakers will be competing for that all important Hollywood handshake.

The Great British Bake Off 2020: Meet the Bakers

(credit: Channel 4)

Not even coronavirus could threaten the unflappable national institution of The Great British Bake Off, which has been filmed following strict Covid-19 protocol with the twelve bakers entering an isolation bubble.

Professional cooks Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith return to judge the competition in the iconic Bake Off tent, with 30 brand new challenges for the bakers to tackle.

Comedian Matt Lucas joins the hosting team alongside Noel Fielding, following Sandi Toksvig’s departure from the show.

Matt Lucas and Mo Gilligan to front Channel 4’s new entertainment commissions

Mo Gilligan and Matt Lucas (credit: Channel 4)

Reasons to be Cheerful with Matt Lucas

Having already cheered up millions with his viral Thank You Baked Potato video in support of Feed NHS, Matt Lucas is going to front this new comedy entertainment show written by Harry Hill.

The series will see the comedic minds of Lucas and Harry Hill combine to bring viewers brand new sketches, upbeat homemade skits and an opportunity to showcase members of the public and their pets alongside celebrities, all from their own homes.

The Great British Bake Off announces new host

Lucas will be joining Noel Fielding and judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood in the tent for the eleventh series.

He said: “I’m chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television. I can’t wait to break bread with Noel, Prue and Paul and meet the brilliant bakers.

“And bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation.”