What a fuss that was. Cast your mind back and you might just remember when The Great British Bake Off was on the BBC. Then with the kind of national debate and furore more usually attached to such matters as, say, invading another country, the makers of the show welcomed a generous offer from Channel 4 and it was as if the world would never be the same again.
However, Prue Leith, Sandi Toksvig and company did such a splendid job of maintaining the formula’s delightful charm that – ad breaks aside – it was as if nothing had changed. Now in The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer (Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm) the bakers pick up the charity baton that their predecessors wielded for Comic Relief and Sport Relief on the Beeb. Joining Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding in the first of five episodes are a quartet of famous contestants, one of whom will emerge from the tent proudly wearing the star baker apron. There’s Spandau Ballet veteran Martin Kemp, comedians Harry Hill and Roisin Conaty, and ever-dependable presenter Bill Turnbull. They begin with a seemingly simple task, in fact full of pitfalls: the cupcake.
Then after the technical challenge comes a spectacular opportunity for triumph or disaster: a 3D recreation in biscuit of the best day of their life. Which if it all goes wrong could end up being the worst day of someone’s life. Good luck.
