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<\/p>\nThe Great British Bake Off suffered a ratings lump compared to last year’s launch as its first show of 2023 aired on Channel 4 on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
This series, Alison Hammond, 48, took over from Matt Lucas as Noel Fielding’s co-host and proved a hit with viewers who tuned in to watch.<\/p>\n
However the ratings didn’t quite reflect the excitement over Alison’s debut, as overnight\u00a0figures reveal an average of 4.3million tuned in.<\/p>\n
This is a substantial 100,000 less viewers than last year’s figures, which had dropped 1.3million on the year before when it aired.<\/p>\n
This year, figures peaked at 4.9million, which was a 300,000 drop in viewers from 2022. It held an overall audience shared of 28.65 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Oh no! The Great British Bake Off suffered a ratings lump compared to last year’s launch as its first show of 2023 aired on Channel 4 on Tuesday evening\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Moved on:\u00a0This series, Alison Hammond, 48, took over from Matt Lucas as Noel Fielding’s co-host and proved a hit with viewers who tuned in to watch<\/p>\n
Bake Off’s ratings were also a stark drop on its 2020 launch, when 6.9 million tuned in while the UK was in the midst of the Covid lockdown.<\/p>\n
Despite the slight drop in viewership, viewers went wild for\u00a0Alison’s\u00a0debut as co-host of The Great British Bake Off on Saturday – and her new gig has gone down a treat with fans.<\/p>\n
Viewers of the Channel 4 series have said it was a ‘stroke of genius’ hiring the bubbly presenter for the show where she took over from former host Matt Lucas.<\/p>\n
The Birmingham native looked right at home alongside veteran presenter Noel Fieling as she greeted the contestants and narrated their baking.<\/p>\n
Alison appeared in a sketch at the beginning of the episode called ‘The Breadfather’\u00a0 where she was presented as a ‘new addition to the family’.<\/p>\n
Approaching ‘Breadfather’ Paul Hollywood, Alison kissed a giant loaf of bread on the judge’s desk.<\/p>\n
He then said: ‘It’s Day One of Series 14, why has it taken so long to come and see me?’<\/p>\n
Alison replied: ‘I don’t mean to brag Breadfather but I’ve been very busy. Daytime TV, hosting the BAFTAs and I was in a Stormzy video.’<\/p>\n
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Out and about! Matt was pictured at Global Studios on Wednesday following the first episode without him<\/p>\n
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Natural:\u00a0Viewers of the Channel 4 series have said it was a ‘stroke of genius’ hiring the bubbly presenter for the show (pictured with Noel Fielding)<\/p>\n
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Sketch:\u00a0Alison appeared in a sketch at the beginning of the episode called ‘The Breadfather’ where she was presented as a ‘new addition to the family’<\/p>\n
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one viewer said: ‘Stroke of genius bringing Alison Hammond on, she’s perfect for Bake Off’.<\/p>\n
Another wrote: ‘Loving Alison Hammond in the tent. Perfect new host,’ while a third added: ‘Alison Hammond is a great addition to #GBBO.’<\/p>\n
A fourth penned: ‘This year’s #GBBO cohort look to be fairly evenly matched, it’ll be interesting to see who inches out in front in the next few weeks!<\/p>\n
‘Alison Hammond is such a welcome addition and her enjoyment is infection.’<\/p>\n
A fifth wrote: ‘Loving it, so far so good xx’.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It comes after Alison discussed making her Bake Off debut during an appearance on This Morning earlier on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
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Reaction: Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one viewer said: ‘Stroke of genius bringing Alison Hammond on, she’s perfect for Bake Off’<\/p>\n
Speaking to Holly Willoughby and Ben Shephard, she said: ‘Obviously, I’ve been in the tent before,\u00a0I\u2019ve been on the baker side so I know what is like to be that nervous.<\/p>\n
‘But I’m gonna be honest, I have never been that nervous since I hosted first with Dermot O’Leary on the main show.<\/p>\n
‘If you think of the bigger pictures, you think this is a global show, I don\u2019t want to ruin this. And I could you know, I\u2019m a little bit risky!’<\/p>\n
Alison explained she was adamant that she kept Bake Off the same and that she was worried about upstaging the other stars with her iconic laugh.<\/p>\n
She said: ‘I was really respectful of the brand. I just wanted it to be Bake Off – what it it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I didn\u2019t want it upstage anyone but I couldn’t help the laugh. The laugh always comes out.’<\/p>\n
She went on: ‘It is a massive responsibility. I\u00a0feel so blessed and so privileged to be given that role, I\u2019m pinching myself now.<\/p>\n
‘When it was first released I didn\u2019t realise how big it was, people I’ve never met before were saying well done Alison!\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Butterflies: Alison confessed her nerves about hosting The Great British Bake Off ahead of her debut episode<\/p>\n
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New role: The TV personality appeared on This Morning on Tuesday where she expressed her excitement about teaming up with Noel Fielding to host the show this year<\/p>\n
‘Everyone loves Bake Off, it’s non offensive, it’s wholesome, it’s so good. It\u2019s a lovely show.’<\/p>\n
Speaking about the judges, Prue Leith, 83, and Paul Hollywood, 57, Alison said: ‘Prue was over the moon there was another female. She is so lovely, so warm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Every single person in front and behind the camera was so warm and giving and wanted me to do well and teaching me the ropes.<\/p>\n
‘Paul knows everything, he’s the first one on set. He knows that show inside and out. He likes his cars, and he has a Lamborghini. He gave me a lift to my hotel.<\/p>\n
‘I got in the car and it’s the first time I drove with him and the last time. He got me there safely, but it was scary.’<\/p>\n
Ben asked Alison if she was able to try any of the delicious treats the 12 talented bakers made after judging.<\/p>\n
She joked: ‘I had a ladle in my bra ready!’ before adding: ‘The weirdest thing is when you hear the judges say this is not that good and I go over and taste it and it’s lovely. You’ve got to remember these are the best amateur bakers in the country.’<\/p>\n
She did confess that the show wasn’t without its sad moments, admitting that she had shed a few tears after having to say goodbye to a baker every week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alison explained: ‘You get invested with the bakers. You’ve got to learn 12 different names, but you get to know everybody and you get invested.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘And when they go, it’s heart-wrenching. There might have been some tears on my half, I was like pull yourself together Alison! It’s an emot<\/p>\n
Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"