Matt Lucas has spoken out about his thoughts on Alison Hammond’s Bake Off debut after she took his place.
Last year, the 49-year-old Little Britain comic announced his departure from the show after three seasons, citing a demanding schedule and a desire to devote more time to hosting Fantasy Football League on Sky TV.
In March This Morning host Alison, 48, was unveiled as his replacement, claiming at the time she was ‘thrilled’ and ‘couldn’t wait to get started’ to work on the long-running programme, but joking she only got the job ‘for the cake’.
After the first episode of the new season aired on Tuesday night, many fans commended Alison’s presenting and expressed their appreciation for the fact that she had already begun calling people ‘babes’ and had demonstrated some rapping talents.
Matt quickly followed up with his thoughts on his successor.
He revealed his feelings on X, previously Twitter, after re-sharing a video Alison had uploaded on joining the Bake Off family.
‘Huge congrats on last night, Alison! You smashed it,’ he began.
‘So warm & natural & funny. Hope you are enjoying all the love xxxx.’
When the news of Alison’s casting was revealed earlier this year, Matt wrote: ‘Dear Alison, many congratulations! You were born to do it. You will be brilliant!’
While she has been sharing her delight about her new position in the build up to the episodes premiering, she stated earlier this week that there was one drawback to eating innumerable cakes, cookies, and bread.
‘I have put on a stone,’ she revealed.
‘I couldn’t believe it.
‘I am literally going running tomorrow! I am just going to get bigger!’ she added when speaking to OK!
Judge Paul Hollywood, who returned with Prue Leith and Alison’s co-host Noel Fielding this season, also said that his new colleague got a little too enthusiastic when the cameras initially started rolling.
‘You [Alison] did make a mistake in the first week and went round and ate everything! You said, “I am never doing that ever again”,’ he joked.
The Great British Bake Off continues on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.
