The Great British Bake Off has consumed my life! As someone that works from home I watch a lot of Netflix in the background while I work. This past week I’ve found something amazing and apparently the rest of the world already knew about it?!
The Great British Bake Off is exactly what it sounds like. Several amateur bakers are in a competition to see who is the U.K.’s best and it’s put to the test by having them compete in three separate baking challenges for each episode. They crown a winner each week and send the last place contestant home until the final three bakers compete for the title in the final episode, and each of the amazing baked goods they create are absolutely tantalizing.
Competition cooking shows aren’t new by any means, and I’ve heard of several friends talk about this show previously but thought it was just like the others. Boy, was I wrong!
As an American with a love for all things British (like so many others in my generation, apparently) the minute the introduction played I was hooked. They’ve got this charming composition of music paired with a fantastic filming style that brings me back to when I’d watch Downtown Abbey, welcoming Britain into my living room with my TV. It’s probably dorky to admit this but I can’t help but feel distinctly British when I have this on my TV at home, ha!
As I watched this show I got more intrigued, and questions kept coming up in my mind while they baked and iced and proved. And I had questions about a lot of things: The hosts, the deserts, the setting and really just everything about The Great British Bake Off.
I unknowingly started in the middle of the series, since the PBS version of the show is currently on Netflix but their “season 1” is actually BBC Two’s fifth season. Confusing. But that’s not what I have questions about!
You’re going to have to bear with this uninformed American as I ask you the things that have been on my mind ever since I watched. Hopefully you might be able to answer a few!
- Who is Mary Berry, and why is she one of the judges? I’ve never heard of her before this.
- Is that really her name?!
- Paul Hollywood’s name can’t be real either, can it? These are totally stage names… right?
- Do people compare Hollywood to Simon Cowell? I see a slight, grayer resemblance there.
- Where do they film this? Is that someone’s gorgeous mansion that they just use the backyard for?
- Is the weather there really that bad? Totally rainy and absolutely brilliant in one day? We have that too but that happens so often on this show!
- Of all of the things they bake I’ve never heard of the majority, probably because I’m American. Do you Brits recognize every (or most) of the things they bake?
- It’s been on since 2010. Are there any baking stars that were born on this show? I’m thinking Kelly Clarkson style from American Idol, but maybe someone has had a spinoff? I need to know.
- What’s the audition process like? This is a timed challenge so would you have to film yourself baking in a certain time and then…mail it off? Or just send in an original recipe?
- What is a proving drawer? Okay, this one I answered myself while watching but really though, what makes it so useful for raising bread?
- Are proving drawers common in Britain or is that strictly an “serious” baker’s purchase?
- How do they power their kitchens? It’s in a tent!
- The obvious answer to the question above is an outdoor generator, but has the competition ever had to stop due to a storm?
- Has the weather ever destroyed the finalized, baked entries before judges could test them? I’m not talking about throwing a Baked Alaska in a trash can due to heat though, Iain.
- Where did these hosts come from?! They’re hysterical!
- Is this the first show these hosts did? Because I need to watch more of them.
- My friend told me they’re switching channels and losing one of the hosts and both judges – WHY?!
- If the series was doing so well on BBC why move to Channel 4
- What’s the difference between BBC and Channel 4 and why is Channel 4 destroying my one true love?
- What am I going to do when I finish every season?!
- Are you going to watch the updated version?
Granted, a lot (if not all) of these questions can be answered through Google but I had to share my discovery with the world!
I feel like I’m way behind on this trend and this is something the world has been entertained with for a long time, especially since it’s been going strong for seven years. But why did no one tell me this exists, and how many other shows like this am I missing?
Thankfully one of our very own writers wrote up a beginner’s guide to this wonderful show and I’m about to go answer all my own questions in case everyone is too busy judging me for being so late on this trend.
Britain, you’ve really got the cream of the crop when it comes to TV shows. Now, excuse me while I spend the rest of my free time catching up on 6 other seasons.
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