Guys, saddle up: The Great British Bake Off is back. Returning to our screens on the 27th August on Channel 4, the contestants for this year’s show have just been announced and fans have noticed a big change in the line-up. With a baker’s dozen of 13 contestants, near 60% of the contestants are in their 20s.
Announcing series 10 this morning, the contestants were revealed on Twitter with only three of them in their 30s, one in her 40s and the oldest contestant being 56. Naturally, the notably younger line-up this year has caused confusion with some die-hard fans.
‘Well done the producers of #GBBO for presenting a group of baking contestants with an average age of just 31,’ one fan tweeted, ‘the oldest a mere 56! You should be really ashamed of this ageist line up ... not even one retiree ... #GBBO2019’
With a younger demographic watching Channel 4 in general, many have assumed the show is trying to appeal to that younger audience with TV critic Scott Bryan tweeting that it’s ‘no surprise’ this is the youngest ever Bake Off cast. However, many are less than impressed by the idea.
‘I miss all the home bakers who brought a lifetime of tips and tricks and skills,’ Joseph Birdsong, a popular YouTuber, tweeted, ‘they claim they aren't choosing by age but they're clearly trying to appeal to a younger audience with flashy bakes and ridiculous challenges. It's just turned into something else.’
Looking at the line-up, it does seem to present a very different impression of the show that we’ve come to know and love. No quick-witted nan upstaging Paul Hollywood with her own ideas, no adorable middle-aged men out-maneuvering one another in bread week, not even the retired new-baker who now ruins their partners life by baking for 10-hours a day.
In fact, it seems with this focus on new, hot and fresh 20-somethings, Bake Off is going a little bit Love Island this year. What’s next, them baking in just aprons while Paul Hollywood slow-motion struts into the tent and forces all the bakers to pick the worst soufflé?
No, but seriously, the show skewing younger this year has caused many to ask, why? For most, the assumption is that GBBO producers are attempting to mix up viewership and bring in more eyeballs - given the show has seen a reduction in average UK viewers by 4.5 million since moving from BBC One to Channel 4. Because, as sad as it is, appealing to people’s society-fueled attraction to the young and beautiful is a sure fire way to gain viewers. Love Island alone is proof of that.
However, according to Love Productions, who produce GBBO, it's actually just because applications from 20-somethings were a lot higher this year.
'We always look for Britain’s best amateur bakers,' they said in statement to Grazia, 'that more young people are applying possibly reflects a generation who have grown up watching Bake Off over the last 10 years.'
So who are these new bakers causing all of this controversy? Scroll to find out more about this year’s line-up…
The Great British Bake Off Contestants 2019 - Grazia
1 of 13Rosie, 28, Somerset
Given a children's baking book age five, Rosie started early. As an on-call veterinary surgeon, she now uses baking to relax and keep her nurses happy – often baking through the night. Inspired by rural life, she takes her passion for animals into her baking in the best way.
2 of 13Alice, 28, Essex
Beginning her obsession with baking in her teen years, when a scoliosis operation left her recovering at home, Alice is a geography teacher. In fact, she sounds like the best geography teacher of all time as she states she teaches using baking – demonstrating volcanic activity with cakes.
3 of 13Henry, 20, Durham
This university student is living his life's dream on GBBO this year, having only got into baking after a Bake Off tent was pitched up in his local park at age 12. Having spent eight years honing is craft, he now bakes for his student friends at Durham University.
4 of 13Phil, 56, Essex
Motorbike enthusiast and HGV driver, Phil has baked since school being introduced to it in his home economics class. Passionate about focaccia, granary bread and brioche, he bakes up to five times a week and sounds like our dream husband.
5 of 13David, 36, Yorkshire
A bread connoisseur, David is an international health advisor who got into baking watching his mum. Apparently, the family never ate shop-bought bread at home, so naturally that's his strong point. However, he's also terrified of Paul Hollywood, so let's hope he rises to the occasion (yes pun very much intended).
6 of 13Priya, 24, Leicester
Another baker since near-birth, Priya started baking in her primary school's after-school club. Although apparently, her real obsession began when she was given a mixer as a wedding gift seven years ago, now experimenting with began baking in her spare time from being a marketing consultant.
7 of 13Michelle, 25, Tenby
This welsh shop administrator grew up on a farm baking almost every other day. A fan of fresh bread and sweet treats, Michelle is literally all of us on an all-inclusive holiday eating bread rolls and three desserts with every meal.
8 of 13Dan, 32, Rotherham
Dan is a support worker, but more importantly, he's a feeder. At least, he sounds like one. Getting into baking to impress his romantic interests at 21, he even baked his own wedding cake in what seems like a highly-unnecessary way to make your wedding day 80x more stressful. Of course, being used to that kind of pressure makes us think he'll be at ease in the GBBO tent.
9 of 13Amelia, 24, Halifax
As a fashion designer, Amelia brings her keen eye to detail into her baking with intricate decorations her greatest passion. Honing her skills while at university, she cites her best bake as a snow leopard cake she made for her nephews 5th birthday.
10 of 13Steph, 28, Chester
The ultimate millennial baker, Steph makes healthy bakes by incorporating fruit and vegetables into her recipes. The shop assistant, while passionate about sports and wellness, is also a very messy baker – so perhaps not as Instagram-friendly as you would think!
11 of 13Jamie, 20, Surrey
Another youngster inspired by Bake Off, he only starting baking after watching the show and attempting his own plaited loaf. Essentially living his life in training for this show, he has taken on multiple technical challenges in his own time – which he seems to have a lot of as a part-time waiter.
12 of 13Michael, 26, Stratford-upon-Avon
A Geordie turned Scott after moving to Scone aged seven, Michael is part theatre manager part fitness instructor – essentially, the ultimate millennial mix, even our drama students these days have fitness Instagram's. Inspired by his Indian heritage when baking, he claims to be best at cakes and pastry.
13 of 13Helena, 40, Leeds
Raised in Lanzarote, Helena's baking is inspired by her Spanish grandmother. Born in North Africa before moving to Spain, she has also lived in Las Vegas where she got into baking for the first time. With all her bakes infused with Spanish flavours, she is one to watch.