Great British Bake Off ‘box-ticking’ row erupts as critics brand ‘woke’ new line-up ‘unwatchable’: ‘Switched off!’
The 17th series of The Great British Bake Off began on Channel 4 last night, marking a new era for the cooking show.
For the first time, long-serving judge Paul Hollywood was paired with new co-star Nigella Lawson as the duo put 12 amateur bakers through their paces.
Ms Lawson stepped into the role vacated by Dame Prue Leith, who departed after nine series on the programme. Meanwhile, Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond returned as presenters.
However, while Ms Lawson and Channel 4 bosses may have expected Ms Lawson’s debut to dominate the conversation among fans, it was rather the new line-up which caused a stir.
This year’s GBBO line-up has been branded ‘woke’ by critics
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CHANNEL 4
Among the competitors introduced on Tuesday night was Gabe, a 32-year-old artist and drag king from the West Midlands who performs under the name Blu Romantic and lives with partners Ellis and Tyler and two sausage dogs called Dill and Sage.
Elsewhere, Yannis, a 28-year-old paediatric doctor based in London, works in a neonatal intensive care unit and regularly brings baked goods to win over colleagues.
Connie, 63, is an NHS hospital discharge lead with more than two decades of service, while the youngest baker, 21-year-old law student Mo, hails from the West Midlands.
Clara, 24, is a marketing graduate originally from Portugal, and Moyin, 22, is a political economy student and competitive sprinter from Essex.
The 2026 GBBO line-up made their debuts on-screen on Tuesday
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CHANNEL 4
The lineup also features Gary, a 67-year-old retired garment technologist and prostate cancer survivor from Nottinghamshire, hairdresser Tom from West Yorkshire, Dorset-based HGV service centre administrator Danni, accessibility coordinator Molly, advertising post-producer Nikki, and project planner Shannon from Gloucestershire.
For the signature challenge, bakers were tasked with producing Ms Lawson’s stout cake, before the technical round required contestants to deliver an artistic bake. For the showstopper, the dozen competitors were asked to craft self-portrait bakes.
And while there were calamities and dropped bakes in the tent, the conversation online veered towards the casting choices by Bake Off bosses, with many complaints centring on what critics deemed an overemphasis on diversity.
“#GBBO Sadly switched off,” one X user fumed. “It’s like they’ve chosen someone from every tick box on the Equal Opps Monitoring Form rather than the best bakers. Pathetic woke s***e.” (sic)
Paul Hollywood returned to judge the contestants
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CHANNEL 4
A second echoed: “I think this year’s Bake Off is more about ticking woke boxes than baking. Not warming to them at all, I want to turn off the TV and lie down in a quiet room #GBBO.”
“#GBBO Did I just hear that man had ‘partners’. More woke nonsense… It’s become unwatchable,” a third said following Gabe’s introduction.
This was echoed by a fourth who weighed in: “Had to rewind. Gabe lives with his partnerS ffs. How woke can this programme go. #gbbo totally ruining it.” (sic)
Elsewhere, a fifth complained: “Now #GBBO is really p***ing me off. It’s usually s***e but it’s extra s***e with these awful woke contestants. Aaargh!”
Bake Off viewers shared their complaints online
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X
And a sixth put: “[Not gonna lie], the Bake Off is getting too woke now #GBBO.”
However, Bake Off fans promptly hit back at the critics, with many suggesting the baking competition has regularly been an inclusive programme.
“Why am I seeing so much ‘Bake Off is gone woke’ discourse this year?” one X user questioned. “It has always been inclusive and full of loads of beautiful different people. Don’t tune into our comfort show, then complain you w*** muffins. #gbbo.”
A second agreed: “Call me woke, but I’m not offended by seeing someone in a wheelchair bake. And if a man in a throuple gets you mad, focus on being able to hold a steady relationship yourself. We are here for cake people, smile! #GBBO.”
Another argued: “Love Nigella, love the contestants. And if you think it’s ‘ticking woke boxes’ either watch something else or stay and appreciate humans for what they can be #GBBO.”
And a fifth similarly fired back: “I find it hilarious that people are moaning over this series being so ‘woke’ when all it actually is, is a more realistic representation of human beings than a lot of other channels/tv shows give.
“Not enough straight, white people for you? Go and cry about it elsewhere. #GBBO.” (sic)
Ms Lawson and Mr Hollywood will return to screens next week to put the 12 bakers through their paces once again after everyone was put through to week two by the judges.
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