Hammond’s previous appearance as a contestant gives us some insight into her hosting style. “You know when some people have dogs that look like them? This is a traybake that looks like me,” she says on the episode, presenting a plate of brownies delightfully decorated with pink and red hearts that just so happen to match her bright red floral dress. She cheekily adds, “Anytime I go out and try a brownie, it never compares to mine.”
I’m curious if she’ll bring that confidence to her role as host. I’ve never seen an episode of Bake Off where a host knows anything about baking, something that maybe feels like it should be a prerequisite for the job. On the contrary, Fielding and Lucas often joked about their lack of kitchen experience while contestants struggled through complex recipes. While this made the show feel relatable to non-bakers, it also—like any joke repeated again and again—got old after a while.
With that in mind, I’m ready to watch a season of Bake Off with a host who actually seems to enjoy baking—who says she loves baking, as she did during her episode. It’s also worth noting that, as a Black woman, Hammond will be the first person of color to host GBBO in its 13-year run. While I’m optimistic to see the show’s permanent cast better reflect its diverse viewership, it’s good to recognize that—although one hire is an improvement—it probably won’t change the entire character of the show. I’m still skeptical of Bake Off’s ability to handle cultural sensitivity (especially after last year’s regrettable Mexico Week).
But I’m jazzed to see Hammond added to the GBBO cast—proper chuffed, as a Brit might say. Cooking competitions trend toward cut-throat challenges and over-the-top gimmicks (as this one occasionally does too), but to me Bake Off remains the Platonic ideal of what food TV can be: encouraging, straightforward, and focused on the food and contestants. With her experience and obvious joy for the art of baking, Hammond seems like a promising fit for the tent.
Now, about those ice cream challenges…