I think I’m the only person who still cares about Bake Off

The Great British Bake Off was once a beloved show, a gem of British television, but I feel like I might be one of the few people who is still tuning in.

Whenever I’ve expressed the sentiment ‘I love Bake Off,’ most people respond with ‘I used to love Bake Off too.’

And yes, I agree Bake Off was definitely a much bigger deal back in the day, but it’s still a fantastic series.

Although the format is the same, and many elements have arguably improved, viewing figures have dropped, with the show falling out of the cultural zeitgeist and becoming a forgotten relic of competitive cooking TV.

In 2023, Bake Off had just 8.57 million viewers, the lowest figure in nearly a decade.

In comparison – in 2016, Bake Off was at its peak with Candice Brown winning the competition and 14 million viewers tuning in to watch the final.

The year after in 2017, something unprecedented took place as the programme moved from the BBC to Channel 4 and Mary Berry along with the hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc stepped back from the series.

Viewing figures took a hit but managed to slowly crawl back up to 11.28 million viewers in 2020.

Those views, though, have mostly plummeted ever since. And I can’t understand it.

The format hasn’t changed, the quality of the bakers has improved, and arguably the hosts have even got better with Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond taking the reigns – and yet viewers don’t care.

So what has gone wrong?

The lack of hype is potentially down to a variety of factors, starting with the quality of bakers.

Some immense talent comes into the tent every year and that has only improved in the past few seasons, but quality contestants don’t always create the best television.

The show thrives on drama and some of the iconic moments are usually sensational moments or disasters including ‘soggy bottoms’ or a major fumble such as the infamous Baked Alaska incident.

Excellent bakers are great for the franchise’s quality but mean there are fewer bizarre characters. I’m speaking on behalf of fans, and we usually love an underdog who makes great cakes and provides baffling entertainment.

These days, after weeks of falling in love with the bakers in the tent, the contestants typically seem to fade into oblivion after the series– which also perhaps lowers the stakes for viewers.

During this time, Bake Off has spawned various spin-offs including The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, Junior Bake Off, and Bake Off The Professionals.

While these shows are great, it could be argued that, given the choice of several different programmes, it’s not surprising that some fans may have moved away from the original towards a more engaging version of the same show. Why wouldn’t you watch professional comedians take on the challenges and obviously provide funnier entertainment?

With moments from celebrities including James Acaster, Nadine Coyle and the cast of Derry Girls stealing the crown for the funniest moments in the tent.

James’s reply: ‘Started making it. Had a breakdown. Bon appetit’ to Paul asking him about his flapjacks has become a viral Bake Off meme – one of the few I can remember in recent years. 

But all that said, these problems have been around for some time – and for me, they truly don’t stop it from being utterly fantastic.

The change in hosts was a tricky road with Sandi Toksvig and Matt Lucas maybe not quite meshing with Noel Fielding’s brand of hosting.

However, Alison Hammond is a brilliant addition and has added a fun much-needed bit of wholesome zaniness that fits with Noel’s style.

The bakers still face the same three challenges they always have – the ‘Signature’, ‘Technical’ and ‘Showstopper’ – and there are still incredible illustrations highlighting certain stunning bakes, which perfectly compare to the occasionally atrocious offerings from other bakers.

In addition, the increased quality of contestants actually means that the bakes have gotten even more creative and complicated over the years.

The programme is also still a beautiful platform for vulnerability and emotional expression, highlighted this year by one baker’s open discussion about baby loss.

Perhaps the real problem with Bake Off is that it’s betrayed by its fantastic legacy. The show captured the nation’s hearts in such a unique way that it can only fail when compared to its past success.

But I still think Bake Off is great and, while there are certainly ways it can improve, I mostly just hope that viewers will give it another go and see what they’ve been missing. I for one will be tuning into the final tonight – and I’ll be on the edge of my seat.

Because really, was there ever anything better than spending a Tuesday night sitting on your couch critiquing someone’s attempt at a chocolate eclair despite the fact that you can barely boil an egg?

The Great British Bake Off airs tonight at 8pm.

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