The Great British Bake Off has shared a touching message ahead of the launch of the brand new series. The much-loved baking programme will return to screens on Tuesday night (September 13) with a fresh batch of amateur bakers setting up home in the famous tent.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith will return alongside presenters Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding in the show’s famous tent for another series of signature, technical and showstopper bakes.
And the programme's return to Channel 4 comes as many broadcasters, including BBC One and ITV continue to make changes to their regular programming schedules during a period of national mourning for the Queen. On Friday, Channel 4 launched the new series of Gogglebox as planned, with the broadcaster saying it would bring a “valuable sense of continuity” for many of their viewers.
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Channel 4 added that it had made "significant changes" to its schedule in the wake of the Queen’s death but that its purpose was to offer an “alternative” for viewers which it feels is "particularly important at times like this".
And now Bake Off itself has released a heartfelt message to its fans ahead of the launch. In a post shared on social media, the popular show recognised that its viewers are living in 'challenging times' but shared their hope that the programme will help to ‘"bring about a few smiles" every week that it airs throughout the autumn.
The post read: "These are challenging times we live in, but we dearly hope the return of Bake Off will bring about a few smiles every Tuesday evening. Perhaps the odd tear too. And maybe a soggy bottom." It was written alongside a photo of the judges and hosts alongside the new line-up of contestants.
There is another eclectic mix of people dedicating their time to taking part in the show in a bid to become the ultimate Star Barker - from a nuclear scientist to an architectural assistant, and a music teacher to a former charity director.
Bake Off judge and celebrity chef Dame Prue Leith recently revealed how she finds fame “flattering”, and it is something she is “grateful” for. The 82-year-old has built her career around food, first as a restaurateur and chef, and later as a judge on Great British Menu before moving to The Great British Bake Off in 2017.
Speaking about the contrast in her experience with that of her fellow Bake Off judge, Paul Hollywood, Dame Prue told the PA news agency: “He’s always very good tempered if we’re somewhere and somebody comes up and wants us to do a selfie. He’ll say ‘Oh, all right then’, but he doesn’t like it.
"He would much prefer to be somewhere nobody will see him. Whereas I think I’m quite grateful for it, these are the people who pay my wages. It’s really flattering. People are very nice. You know I’d hate to be a politician and have that kind of fame. Then at least half the country will hate you, whatever your policy is, whatever you do, half the people won’t like you, whereas everybody likes food! It’s not something that makes natural enemies.
"I mean, I’m sure some people are irritated by me or don’t like me, for some reason or another, but it won’t be serious. They’re not going to be beastly about it. It’s very rare that I’m attacked or trolled."
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