Great British Bake Off: Alison Hammond's best moments as she makes debut appearance

Virgin Radio

27 Sep 2023, 10:17

The new series of The Great British Bake Off has kicked off and, along with a new set of bakers heading into the tent for the first time, Alison Hammond made her debut as co-host.

The This Morning star has taken over presenting duties from Matt Lucas, who quit the show at the end of last year. She joins Noel Fielding as co-host, while Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back as judges.

Series 14 started on Channel 4 last night (26th September), and many viewers took to social media to praise Alison’s first appearance. One wrote on Twitter (formerly X): “Love Alison Hammond. She's brought the warmth back to Bake Off.” 

Another wrote: “Getting Alison Hammond on board this series is a stroke of genius.”

There were plenty of highlights from the presenter’s first show. Here are a few of them: 

The Breadfather 

The sketch intro to the new series saw Paul as The Breadfather, a take on The Godfather. Alison appeared in the scene and kissed a loaf of bread. “It’s day one of series 14,” Paul said. “Why has it taken so long to come to see me?”

She responded: “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.”

On your marks…

Alison and Noel teamed up for their first ever “on your marks, get set… bake” together.

“This is the bit you’re most looking forward to, isn’t it?” the Mighty Boosh star asked.

“I can’t wait, let me get ready,” she replied. 

Noel asked: “Shall we hold hands?” 

The pair then delivered the iconic lines.

Babes

Alison didn’t take long to start calling people “babes”. 

“You had a wedding cake for your 21st birthday?” she asked new baker Rowan. “I love you. It’s because you’re worth it, isn’t it babes?” 

She later told Dan: “I wish I liked Rhubarb. I’d be all over that, babes.”

Beaver

Bake Off wouldn’t be Bake Off without the occasional bit of innuendo, and Alison got involved with it on her debut.

After making viewers laugh by saying “moist”, pretty much out of nowhere, she later cracked up during the Showstopper Challenge, when Prue said to baker Nicky, “Tell us about your beaver.”

Star Baker

Announcing Star Baker for her first time, Alison said: “Congratulations bakers, you’ve gotten to the end of Bake Week. Now I’ve got the lovely job of announcing Star Baker of the week. The first star baker is D to the A to the N, you know it’s Dan!”

Find out who was eliminated from the show in our handy episode one round-up.

The Great British Bake Off continues next Tuesday 3rd October at 8pm on Channel 4. Stream episode one online.