Matt Lucas to Co-Host Next Season of 'The Great British Baking Show'
BBC/BBC Worldwide 2016
Former Doctor Who companion Matt Lucas is trading in the TARDIS for a stint in The Great British Baking Show tent. The actor and comedian will be taking over for outgoing host Sandi Toksvig, who is leaving the reality series after three seasons.
The popular reality baking competition, with now airs on Channel 4 in the U.K. (after much drama) as The Great British Bake Off and streams on the U.S. on Netflix (following a network shift) as The Great British Baking Show, will return for its eleventh season or seventh collection depending on which country you're watching in and how its broadcasger is counting. (The most recent season is the one that featured a final trio of David, Steph and Alice, for the record.)
We know, we know. It's all more confusing than it should be.
Lucas's first season in the tent will likely come later this year. There is no official word yet on when the next season of the Baking Show will hit our screens, but if past is prologue it's probably headed our way toward the end of summer. During Season 7, Netflix made weekly episodes available to stream roughly in time with the BBC airing (if a few days later), so that also feels like it should be a safe guess one more.
On your marks, get set… say hello to the newest member of the Bake Off team – @RealMattLucas! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/MN6lDox94t
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) March 11, 2020
“I’m chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television," Lucas said in a statement announcing his casting. "I can’t wait to break bread with Noel, Prue and Paul and meet the brilliant bakers. And bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation. See you in the tent!”
He'll join returning judges Paul Hollywood (the last remaining member of the original Bake Off crew) and Prue Leith, and host Noel Fielding.
mood : pic.twitter.com/P15F164n47
— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) March 11, 2020
While Lucas was most recently seen as the alien andriod Nardole opposite Peter Capaldi on Doctor Who, he's well known as a comedian in his own right. British comedy fans may know him from his sketch comedy with David Walliams, including Rock Profile, Little Britain, and Come Fly With Me. In short, he should be a delightful addition to the tent, and I look forward to seeing how he and Noel will play off one another. (I have kind of a funnier Sue/Mel vibe in mind, but that's my wishful thinking.)
What do you think of Lucas as part of the Bake Off crew? Are you looking forward to the show's return later this year? Let's discuss in the comments.
