Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Michael Chakraverty

It’s time to admit Bake Off is feeling stale. As a former contestant, I know how to make it rise again

Great British Bake Off judes, hosts and finalists of  Series 14 on 21 November 2023.
‘Just 4.38 million people watched Matty Edgell [seated, left] pip his fellow finalists to the post this week. What’s changed?’ The Series 14 final on 21 November 2023. Photograph: Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4

Utter the words “bin-gate” and you would be hard pressed to find any Great British Bake Off fan who wouldn’t go misty-eyed. Ingrained in our collective consciousness is 2014 contestant Iain Watters’ baked alaska-fuelled tantrum, resulting in the iconic presentation of a bin to judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood in place of his showstopper.

Iconic moments have been in plentiful supply since The Great British Bake Off’s inception in 2010: Sue Perkins’ elbow inadvertently sabotaging a contestant; the Great Custard Robbery of 2013; Nadiya Hussain’s empowering winner’s speech.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.