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Bye bye Bake Off
The last ever BBC Great British Bake Off episodes make up a Christmas double bill, and the bakers say look out for a whiff of scandal – and a big surprise
So this is it, the last ever Great British Bake Off episodes on the BBC. After bitter contract negotiations between the corporation and the show’s producers, the most popular programme on TV is moving to Channel 4 in a £75 million deal, and things will never be the same again.
And that means this year’s two special Bake Off Christmas episodes, on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, will be ones to savour. For the last time, presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins along with judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood – the only one of the team to sign up for the new Channel 4 version – will be together in the Bake Off tent as they put a selection of favourite past contestants through their paces. They may have filmed the show back in June – when we all thought there’d be many more BBC Bake Offs to come – but there’s a Christmas tree, woolly jumpers and even the two presenters dressed as Christmas puds.
‘It was hot when we filmed it, so it was strange to have all the Christmas things in the tent,’ says contestant Chetna Makan, a semi-finalist in series five in 2014 who’ll be appearing in the second of the two episodes. ‘We were told to dress as if it was Christmas but I did feel for James [Fair Isle jumperwearing doctor James Morton] in his thick jumper. We were told we couldn’t change our clothes for continuity reasons so he wasn’t allowed to take his jumper off, even though he had sweat running down his face.’
The shows are a wonderful reminder of why Bake Off has been so hugely popular. There’s all the drama of the bakers’ efforts, Mel and Sue’s cheeky humour – and national treasure Mary Berry looking sparkling in her Christmas outfit. And in the second of the two shows there’s even a whiff of scandal to compete with custard-gate – when one contestant accidentally used another’s custard in series four – as one of the bakers steals another’s idea.
The Christmas Day show brings back Mary-Anne Boermans, a series two finalist in 2011, Cathryn Dresser who came fi f th in series three in 2012, Ali Imdad who came ninth in series four in 2013, and hilarious Scottish former merchant seaman Norman Calder who went out in episode five of series five in 2014. He became one of the show’s most memorable contestants – he thought pesto was exotic – and when he crumbled under pressure in pie week, presenting the judges with raw pastry in his pear pie and a meringue overpoweringly laced with lavender, he was turfed out. ‘I was Paul and Mary in their cosy Christmas jumpers really surprised they asked me to come back,’ laughs Norman. ‘And I think Mary and Paul were surprised to have me back. I said, “I bet you didn’t expect to see me again.” They just smiled.’ Among their challenges are to cre- ate stunning bakes to grace Mary’s Christmas buffet table, and a showstopper with a Christmas theme. ‘It was good fun and nice to meet all the other bakers,’ says Norman. ‘There’s also a big surprise at the end of our episode I think people will enjoy.’
Competing against Chetna on Boxing Day are Howard Middleton, best known for having his custard taken by a fellow contestant, series three finalist James Morton, and Janet Basu, a series two semi-finalist in 2011.
In one of several new challenges they face, they must make a Scandinavian Christmas log none of them can even pronounce. This leads to one contestant changing his plan after seeing the way Chetna tried to make it. ‘I did get a little bit angry as his turned out so much better than mine,’ laughs Chetna, a former clothes designer who’s just brought out her first cookbook. ‘I think people will enjoy seeing it; it was all done in good humour.’
For all the competitors it was a brilliant experience to return to the Bake Off tent that changed their lives, but it was also rather terrifying. ‘It was frightening how quickly the old feelings come flooding back,’ says Howard. ‘You quickly get back in the zone and all the anxiety returns.’
But Chetna says she actually felt better this time around, after getting over her initial nerves. ‘When they asked me if I wanted to do the special I said yes straight away,’ she says. ‘Then as the date got nearer I thought to myself, “Why did I say yes? What was I thinking?” I thought about pulling out; the idea of going back and facing the judges made me very nervous. But once I got in the tent it was fine. A lot of the crew were the same and seeing Mel and Sue was like seeing old friends, so I felt much more relaxed than when I was first on the show.’ Unbeknown to the contestants, as the episodes were being filmed the discussions about a new contract between the BBC and Love Productions, the company that makes the show, were hotting up. Talks broke down in September, mainly because of money, and shortly afterwards Channel 4 announced it had bought the show. Mel and Sue, followed swiftly by Mary, said that they would stay with the BBC, and all three have been rewarded for their loyalty with new shows while a new baking programme is said to be being planned for them.
‘It’s sad to think I’m in the last BBC Bake Off,’ says Chetna. ‘When we were filming we didn’t have a clue, so it was a joyful experience. I’m heartbroken to think it’s the last one, and I’m honoured to have been in such a special show.’
Norman is a little more sanguine. ‘I think people will shed a tear or two because it won’t be on the BBC any more,’ he says. ‘People do still love the BBC. Channel 4 will have to find new presenters but as long as they get decent people and don’t try and make the contestants too professional I think it will still be a success.’
The Great Christmas Bake Off is on BBC1 on Christmas Day at 4.45pm and on Boxing Day at 7pm.