Alison Hammond brings new zest to "GBBO"

Success on "The Great British Baking Show" relies on achieving the right balance of flavors, textures, sweetness and style. Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith demand contestants unify all these ingredients perfectly while also accounting for each of their tastes. In Season 11's opening episode, "Cake Week," Hollywood advises one contender not to be afraid to "kick us in the teeth" with her citrus notes, and praises another for incorporating enough coffee flavored oomph to wake them up. Smart bakers who make it to the tent also know that booze is the way to Leith's heart – but not too much.

Competitors are constantly figuring out perfect ratios for their bakes. So have the producers, who had a much easier time replacing Mary Berry with Leith than finding the right partner for host Noel Fielding. Introducing him beside the extremely mid Sandi Toksvig enabled the audience to appreciate the gentle good humor the rock-and-sweet roll performer brought to the tent.

Toksvig's exit led to the audience having to stomach "Little Britain" star Matt Lucas for three seasons. (Yes, only three, although much in the way a thudding headache makes time slow to a crawl, his grating onscreen presence making Lucas' tenure feel longer.) But in late 2022 Lucas delivered sweet relief to millions when he officially tossed in his tea towel, leading producers to hire U.K. TV personality Alison Hammond.