As The Great British Bake Off returns to our television screens this evening for the 11th season we are sure it will add a welcomed and necessary element of comfort and normality to our turbulent lives at the moment. Therefore it's time for the top 10 things we love about The Great British Bake Off.
1. Isn't it obvious? Cake.
Watching cakes, baking cakes, eating cakes. We love everything and anything to do with cake and well, if you are sitting down to watch cake, it would be rude not to eat some at the same time. At A Hume Country Clothing we are partial to a bit of cake...just ask our Ladieswear Manager Anna Thomson. As soon as the bell tolls three the kettle is on and the cake is on the shop counter.
2. Transitional TV at its best.
One thing you can rely on is The Bake Off to take you from the sweet, light nights of summer into the dark depths of winter. It is a transitional programme that sees you right out of your post summer holiday blues to the time of year where we can maybe start contemplating the thought of the '
C word'.
3. Noel's eccentric shirt collection.
Although at A · Hume our shirt collection is a bit more reseverved and doesn't extend much further than a classic collins or a pink and blue poplin we can sit back and admire the quirky, confidence of Noel Fielding's wardrobe finds. What we do want to know is what colour catcher he uses in his washing machine?
4. Something for everyone.
Have you ever come across those strange folk that say...
'I'm not a sweet person, I would take a packet of crisps over a cake any day'...We never trust those dodgy people. However, they will be equally satisfied watching an episode of the GBBO as cheesy breads and hearty pies also feature and if they genuinely don't like sweet things they won't have to endure an hour of their bellies grumbling and wiping the drool from their chin.
5. The Prue Pat.
Pfffft the Hollywood Handshake? We are all about the Prue Pat. A true sign of bakery brilliance.
6. When they lie down and watch the oven.
They all say they won't do it...but they do. Ever heard the saying
'a watched kettle never boils'...We can only imagine how long it must take for a whole cake to bake.
7. Mel and Sue Sandwich.
We loved Sandi and Noel, and are sure we will take to new addition Matt Lucas too but boy would we love to have one more Mel and Sue sandwich.
8. An Extra Slice.
When the episode ends and you can't bear the thought of waiting another week, we have the humurous additional delights of Jo Brand's extra slice on a Friday night.
9. Steely blue eyes.
We love to hate him but Paul Hollywood is The Great British Bake Off. And it wouldn't be the same without his twinkly blue eyes and of course his bread week punchline of "it's been overwerked".
10. We get our bake on.
If there is one thing The Great British Bake Off does best, it encourages us to get baking. What harm can come from painstakingly measuring ingredients, mixing them together and "bunging" them in the oven on a wing and a prayer...well we will tell you as this year the Humes are taking part in their very own GBBO sweeptstake. Each staff member has been allocated a contestant and when your person leaves the tent you have to bring in some of your home baking for everyone on the following Friday...this could be interesting.
