NOTE: Elimination spoilers
The Great British Bake Off is back, with a brand new and well-deserved BBC One Wednesday night slot after hooking millions of viewers in past series and securing a loyal fanbase. Many were excited, but some were worried that the change would see a severe shake-up of the format and ridiculous attempts at making this new series stand tall above the rest. Luckily, it was an unwarranted fear.
Credit: BBCThough 17-year-old Martha is the youngest competitor to ever grace the baking tent, the show didn't make too much of a big deal in regards to her age and we got through an episode an hour long without it feeling like the girl was being patronised. When I saw her on the list of contestants this year I thought she'd be treated with kid gloves, but it's clear that in the eyes of Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, she's equal to the rest of those taking part.
Our theme for the week was cakes, which I hated only for the fact it made me increasingly hungry as the challenges went by. A Jaffa Cake cake... 36 of them... I was foaming at the mouth.
As a sucker for things that are aesthetically pleasing, when the swirls of a swiss roll were being formed and those little drawings of what the bakers were hoping to achieve showed on screen, they elicited gasps of 'Ahhs' and 'Mmms' from my living room.
Credit: BBCFavourite bakers for the week go to Nancy and Diana, if only for the cheeky glint in their eyes when they realise their creations are pretty on-the-mark. I called Nancy getting Star Baker halfway in, and feel I now deserve my rightful spot as third judge. Waiting on that call, BBC.
In the end the right decision was made with Claire being sent home, but her personality was so bubbly at times it would have been nice to see just a little bit more of her. Iain was lacking but appears to already be kicking off his redemption arc storyline, as Mel insisted she had 'high hopes' for both him, and his beard.
With so many bakers taking part at these early stages, things seemed a little rushed from time to time. That's bound to happen at the beginning of any competition with so much to cram in, however. As the weeks go by we're sure to have more time to get to know those remaining and marvel at their baking talents.
Credit: BBCGreat British Bake Off is a show that's stuck to its winning recipe. Mel and Sue are still fantastic and dropping puns left right and centre, and the innuendo is there - light and fluffy - tame enough to get away with it and have the audience smiling.
Episode 2 airs next Wednesday, August 13 at 8pm on BBC One.
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