Alison Hammond has officially entered the Great British Bake Off tent, and she’s immediately made an impression.
The This Morning host, 48, joined Paul Hollywood, Dame Prue Leith, and Noel Fielding earlier this year, taking over for Matt Lucas.
Little Britain’s Matt announced his departure from the Channel 4 show to focus on other obligations soon before Big Brother’s Alison was picked as his replacement.
While prior seasons of Bake Off have seen a drop in viewership, it’s safe to say Alison is come to salvage the programme.
She certainly reminded us she’s the Queen of television in her debut episode of the new series, bringing the pandemonium we’d missed back to the tent.
Alison Hammond reminds us (and Paul) she’s the Queen of television
Alison made it apparent in the opening credits that she owns our television screens – and not only because we caught her kissing a loaf of bread, as you do.
Clearly Paul needed a reminder, as she told him: ‘I don’t need to brag, Breadfather, but I’ve been very busy.
‘Daytime TV, hosting the Baftas, and I was in a Stormzy video.’
She really does it all!
Calling the contestants ‘babes’ already
Before the ovens were even switched on, Alison addressed a participant as ‘babes’ for the first time.
In the first task, the Brummie Big Brother star supported Rowan, a 21-year-old student, over his wedding cake.
‘I love you. It’s because you are worth it isn’t it, babe!’ she quipped.
Words of advice we all need Alison to tell us.
Alison and Noel erupt into giggles over ‘moist’
The one phrase that most of us despise threw Alison and Noel into fits as they showed their on-screen chemistry was worth the wait.
As Noel gave the bakers instructions for Challenge 2, his co-host couldn’t help but repeat the noteworthy word, leaving them both grinning like school kids.
‘I just spat out my drink all over the sofa, floor and my clothes after Alison Hammond decided to out of nowhere say “Moist”’ one viewer laughed.
Another said: ‘I wheezed with laughter when they said “moist”.’
When it comes to dishing out advice over disastrous bakes, there’s no one as comforting as Alison
Alison came to the rescue when competitor Matty sought reassurance about his ‘black dog’ cake, which turned out to be significantly more grey.
And, while he wasn’t quite convinced by her suggestion, she proved to be just as soothing as needed.
‘Well let me guess what you’re making, for that colour, are you making an elephant?’ Alison asked the hopeful baker.
He replied: ‘It’s supposed to be a black dog.’
But Alison managed to hide her surprise and advised: ‘What are you going to do? He’s grey! Have you got no more food colouring?’
When Matty decided he had no time for more food colouring, Alison reassured: ‘There are grey dogs out there.’
Despite Alison’s assistance, Paul’s views were less than encouraging, as he delightfully told Matty his cocker spaniel cake looked like it had been “run over.”
Alison shows off her rapping skills
On your marks… get set… give it up for @AlisonHammond’s debut as a Bake Off host! 👏👏 #GBBO pic.twitter.com/BKh6Q3abRb
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 26, 2023
Although it was just for a few seconds, Alison demonstrated that she was a woman of many skills when she finished the concert with a little rap.
Alison performed for the first time as Star Baker, saying, ‘Congratulations bakers, you’ve made it to the end of bake week. Now I have the honour of naming the Star Baker of the Week.
‘The first star baker is D-A-N, you know it’s Dan.’
Not to mention Alison’s closing moments, when she perpetuated the programme’s running innuendo joke when Dame Prue urged participant Nicky to show the judges her beaver.
Thankfully, despite the laughs that ensued, she meant her animal-themed bake.
‘I don’t like dry beavers!’ Alison later quipped.
The Great British Bake Off continues on Channel 4 on Tuesday at 8pm.
