The stars of last year’s The Great British Bake Off have said they have absolute faith in the line-up for the next series and cannot wait to tune in when the show moves to its new Channel 4 home.
Winner Candice Brown, Selasi Gbormittah, Andrew Smyth, Jane Beedle, Benjamina Ebuehi and Tamal Ray shared their hopes for the former BBC contest as they were reunited on the red carpet for the TV Bafta Awards on Sunday.
The competition’s next series will see Prue Leith take over from Mary Berry as judge, while Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding replace Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc as presenters.
Candice described judge Paul Hollywood, the only remaining host from the show’s original foursome, as a “pussycat” who would get on with new co-star Prue just as well as Mary.
She told the Press Association: “Of course I will still watch Bake Off. I love it, it was my favourite show and it still is my favourite show.
“I can’t wait to see it, the new team will be amazing and it will be absolutely hilarious.”
Joining her at the London event on Sunday, Tamal joked: “I will absolutely be watching, I have a lot of faith in it.
“Everybody is so stressed about it and complaining about the channel changing but four and one are next to each other on the remote control so it won’t be that big a deal.”
Jane added the show’s new contestants would be welcomed into the “Bake Off family”.
The group said they were thrilled to be back together again for the event, with Andrew saying: “I’m trying to play it cool but inside I’m giggling like a little child,” while Selasi said he had “sweaty palms”.
Selasi became the nation’s favourite TV heartthrob with his laidback style and smooth talk during last year’s series, and he admitted that he was still enjoying the attention.
“It’s great but you have to be cool about it and not let it get to you,” he joked, “I’ve got a big head already so I better just stay in my lane.”
Sue also attended the event, filling in as host in the absence of usual presenter Graham Norton.
She also told the audience that she had high hopes for her successors and the show’s future on Channel 4.
