While it always feels sad to wave off summer, the one good thing about the arrival of colder, darker times is that it also marks Great British Bake Off season – something that’s bound to bring a bit of light into the gloomiest of evenings.
The new series kicked off last night, bringing judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith back into our living rooms alongside presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.
They’ve been joined by a brand new cohort of home bakers, who’ll be battling it out each week with their finest creations.
Advert
We’ve started off with Cake Week, with contestants each knocking up a loaf cake, eight mini Battenbergs and an illusion cake.
Their efforts resulted in one of Paul’s famous Hollywood handshakes, while Prue said a particular bake was ‘one of the most interesting cakes’ she’d ever eaten – whether that’s a good or bad thing, you’ll only know if you watch for yourself.
But there was one thing many viewers found themselves slightly distracted by, having spotted an interesting detail among the bakers.
Advert
“Bakers having to wear their jackets in the tent really reminding us how dire the British summer was #GBBO,” one fan tweeted.
True enough, the bakers – who are often seen sweltering away in the tent as they desperately attempt to temper chocolate – were all cosied up in winter coats.
Someone else commented: “Yes! Usually they’re melting!”
Another said: “I said this! How depressing.”
Advert
A fourth agreed this summer had been a ‘shocker’, while a fifth added: “I saw that, also. Lots of coat wearing, in the tent.”
One other joked that Chocolate Week was still bound to be ‘on the hottest day of the year’, which is usually how things pan out as bakers fiddle with one of the key ingredients that doesn’t fare too well in the heat – especially if you’re trying to attach a delicate chocolate collar to your towering cake.
The Bake Off is notoriously usually filmed in the warmer months, in turn creating that dreamy English countryside summertime aesthetic that we know and love.
Advert
This season was reportedly shot between late spring and summer, in keeping with the traditional schedule.
Of course, many of you will remember that this year’s warmer months left a lot to be desired, with many of us wrapped up in blankets when we should have been sunbathing in the garden.
Topics: Great British Bake Off, Reality TV, TV And Film, Food and Drink
Jess Hardiman