Following much criticism, the Great British Bake Off has cancelled national weeks for the 2023 season.
The chairman of the Channel 4 programme has conceded that the format change implemented last year was a huge mistake and has sworn to adhere to the show’s ‘traditional’ structure.
After Mexican Week aired in October, fans called out a joke made by Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding for promoting negative stereotypes, the competition series was accused of racism.
Reflecting on the episode, GBBO executive producer Kieran Smith said: ‘We didn’t want to offend anyone but the world has changed and the joke fell flat. We’re not doing any national themes this year.
He added: ‘I hold my hands up to the cooking complaint and the theme weeks.’
Instead, Kieran pledged that producers will revert to the original Bake Off formula and base programmes on traditional weeks such as cakes and bread.
He told The Guardian: We’re going very traditional. We’re doing all the regular weeks: Cakes, Biscuits, Bread, Patisserie, Chocolate, plus Party Cakes is a new theme.
‘No spoilers, but it features challenges I think viewers will love.’
It was previously said that executives will go ‘back to basics’ after the last season had the lowest ever watching ratings and was slammed by fans for ‘losing its identity’ and challenges for being ‘inaccessible.’
Richard McKerrow, showrunner and executive producer, even admitted that the components that had suited the programme so well for numerous years didn’t exactly stay.
‘I’d be the first to hold up our hands and say that I feel that the last series was not our strongest,’ he said.
Alison Hammond, who replaces Matt as Mighty Boosh star Noel’s co-host, is a welcome addition to the GBBO.
Channel 4 published a teaser film and a first glimpse at Alison, who many feel will save the programme, in the tent earlier this week.
In a statement, she added: ‘Finally I can talk about it! I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Great British Bake Off and can’t wait to meet this year’s bakers. It’s a huge honour to be back in the tent and I can’t wait to get started.’
It won’t be her first time in the tent, as she signed up to compete in the Stand Up To Cancer special in 2020.
The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 in September.
Source My Celebrity Life.
