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There are tears and disasters as Junior Bake Off returns – but also stupendous creations that take the cake, says host Harry Hill

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Thankfully, even in uncertain times, baking is one thing we can all still do. That might have helped the last series of the Great British Bake Off win record ratings for Channel 4 last year and now the children’s version has arrived with all the tension, talent and tears – and cuter contestants.

Hosted by Harry Hill, and judged by former Great British Bake Off contestant Liam Charles and new judge, pastry chef Ravneet Gill, (filling in for 80year-old Prue Leith who couldn’t take part for Covid safety reasons) Junior Bake Off might be just what we need.

Filmed over the summer in the famous Bake Off tent, it pitches two groups of young bakers in week-long competitions. The winning five contestants from each group compete in week three, then the top four go head to head in the grand finale.

‘It was a relief to be back in the tent, as there was a big question over whether or not it would film,’ says comic Harry, who started hosting the show last year. ‘So many shows weren’t going ahead but the producers were absolutely dogged in pulling it off – and they really did. It was a very positive experience for everyone.’

Harry says he was stunned by how good the bakers – many of whom are only ten – were. ‘The fun of it is being surprised by the bakers,’ he says. ‘I am not a judge but I am constantly surprised by the extent of their baking abilities. The difference with this show is that the Junior Bakers will have a day when everything goes completely wrong and there are tears and that is heart-breaking but you know in ten minutes they will have bounced back. It is not the same as grown-up crying!’

The other difference is that the kids – heat A’s ten-year-olds Sicily and Naima, Henry, 11, Will, 12, Toby and Zack, both 13, and Maddi and Safiyyah, both 14; and heat B’s ten-year-olds Fyn, Fern, Charlie and Sophia, Erin, 13, Cece and Reece, both 14, and Robbie, 15 – are much more honest. ‘They don’t self-edit and their spontaneity can be very funny,’ he says. ‘A lot of the kids were transparent when

they found me annoying, particularly the older ones who are very focused. But I like to have a comedy moment with them. I want them to have fun and find a sense of perspective.

‘It’s not all about winning. I want them to enjoy it, so they remember the fun bits when they watch back.’

Among the dishes the bakers were asked to cook were mythical bread creatures, selfie eclairs and biscuit artwork. ‘There was one funny moment where I broke down laughing because one bake looked like dog muck served on astro turf,’ says Harry. ‘While a baker mistook salt for sugar in one challenge. There are things that go completely wrong – but the disasters make good TV.’ ■

Junior Bake Off, Monday-friday, 5pm, Channel 4.

Front row l-r: Henry, Toby, Will, Sicily, Zack, Maddi, Safiyyah, and Naima. Back row l-r: Reece, Fern, Robbie, Fyn, Sophia, Cece, Erin and Charlie