You know what’s mad? The Great British Baking Show has been around for fifteen years. That is longer than most marriages end up lasting. And just like marriages, sometimes the people change. Over the years, The Great British Baking Show has experienced a succession of hosts, each contributing uniquely to the iconic white tent.
Let me tell you about the people who’ve made us laugh, cry, and occasionally shout at the telly.
Mel Giedroyc – The Mum Friend
Mel Giedroyc was around from the very beginning in 2010. She has this wonderful, warm energy about her. Like that friend who never forgets your birthday and really cares about how you are.
Mel was not just playing to the camera. She really did care about the bakers. There’s this brilliant story about how she and Sue were known to deliberately stand in front of the contestants when they were going through a proper disaster, obscuring them from the cameras. That’s proper kindness, that is.
She did seven series over the course of 2010 to 2016. Many felt gutted when she left the show. She’d become part of the furniture in the best possible way. These days, she’s involved in other TV stuff, but really? Bake Off isn’t really Bake Off without her, though.
Sue Perkins – The Clever One
Sue Perkins was Mel’s comedy partner for years before Bake Off. They were something of a package deal. But Sue was also something else in the tent. She’s sharp, snappy, and straight down the gullet, and she has this dry wit that is so British it hurts.
Sue could turn anything into a joke. A collapsed cake? She’d make some smart remark about the situation. A soggy bottom? Well, you can imagine. But she was never mean. That was the thing with Sue; she was hilarious but not very mean.
She departed with Mel in 2016 when the show switched to Channel 4. Both stuck with the BBC, which was loyalty of a kind, I guess. Fair play to them. Sue has done loads since then, such as documentaries, travel shows, and all sorts. But I still miss her standing in that tent and making terrible puns.
Mary Berry – The National Treasure
Mary Berry wasn’t a host; she was a judge. But for heaven’s sake, we have to talk about her. Mary reigned in that tent from 2010 to 2016. Literally everyone’s dream granny.
She had these brilliant expressions. “Scrummy” was her favourite word. And when she told you something was good, you believed her: she has been baking longer than most of us have been alive. She’s 90 years old now, by the way. Ninety!
When Mary exited in 2016, people were heartbroken. There were petitions and everything. She simply said she couldn’t leave the BBC; good on her. Channel 4 tried to tempt her with a bunch of money, but she wasn’t interested. ” That’s Mary Berry for you: principles over profit.
Paul Hollywood – The One Who Never Left
The only person who has been there since day one is Paul Hollywood. Fifteen years of my same old bloke, handing out handshakes and feigning disappointment at raw bottoms. That’s commitment.
Paul takes some stick for being too tough. But honestly? That’s his job. Somebody’s got to break it to those bakers when their bread is rubbish. And when Paul gives you a handshake for doing something brilliant, then you know that it means something because he is so tight with his handshakes.
At 58, he remains on the job. Yes, he still has the blue eyes that everyone talks about. Still judging every single soggy bake that comes his way. He’s kind of the lifeblood of the show. It’s not Bake Off without Paul.
Sandi Toksvig – The Brainy Comedian
When Sandi Toksvig came on board in 2017, I doubted it could work. She’s super-brilliant, don’t get me wrong. Clever as anything. But could she really fill Mel and Sue’s shoes?
Turns out, she didn’t try to. Sandi just did her own thing. She’d pepper you with fun facts about the history of bread or share an interesting titbit on something Danish (she’s half-Danish). And then she was funny in this brilliant way that made you feel smarter just by watching.
She appeared in three series, from 2017 to 2019. Then she left the show and went on to do other projects. She’s been on QI for years, writes books, and does political stuff. Lady’s got a full plate. She is only human after all; you can’t really blame her for wanting to step back from Bake Off.
Noel Fielding – The Weird Fashion Bloke
Noel Fielding came on board in 2017, and there he remains. When they first announced him, everyone thought it was a joke. Noel? From The Mighty Boosh? In the Bake Off tent?
But there’s just one thing: Noel is a beaut. Yeah, he wears mental clothes. Cat-covered shirts and jackets that look as if someone vomited a rainbow all over them. But also, beneath it all, he’s really nice to the bakers.
He’s also mellowed with age a bit. At first, he perhaps tried too hard to be funny. Now he’s just… Noel. Cracking the occasional surrealist joke, supporting bakers, and keeping baking as the main thing. He’s staked a claim to his spot in the tent; it suits him.
Prue Leith – Mary’s Replacement
When she took over from Mary Berry in 2017, Prue Leith had the toughest job in telly. Following a national treasure? Good luck with that.
But Prue held her own. She’s a real chef, has been in the food game for years, and knows her way around. And she’s got this great posh voice, which makes everything sound so significant. “That’s rather good” from Prue is like being awarded an award.
And now, at 85, she’s still judging. She did sit out the celebrity episodes this year, however. For those, it was her mate Caroline who stepped in. But Prue’s still in the main series, still tasting all of the bakes, alive with fresh opinions on whether your pastry is too thick.
Matt Lucas – The Loud One
Right, Matt Lucas. It’s difficult because … let me see, Matt’s a bit of a jokester. Little Britain was massive. Come Fly With Me was fantastic. But on Bake Off? It didn’t quite work.
He was at Netheravon from 2020 to 2022, three series. And some other people really loved him, to be fair. But many viewers found him to be too much. Too brash, too noisy, too many characters when we would rather just chat to the bakers.
The bakers occasionally seemed a little annoyed at his interrupting their work. And his jokes were forced; it was like he was really trying instead of being natural. When he left in December 2022, waving the white flag that he couldn’t keep Bake Off and other jobs to stay on, I think there was quite a collective sigh of relief.
Alison Hammond – The Breath of Fresh Air
And then in March 2023, Alison Hammond joined, and everything changed. And I say that in the best way.
Alison just has so much warmth that you can’t fake. She’s funny, but she’s not trying to be a comedian. She’s supportive without pretending to be someone she’s not. And that laugh is contagious. When Alison’s happy, everyone’s happy.
She’s been on three series now: fourteen, fifteen, and this current sixteenth series that is airing at the moment in October 2025. And honestly? She’s been perfect. The bakers love her. The viewers love her. She just gets it.
What I like about Alison is that she makes whoever is comfortable. She competed on the show herself, on Celebrity Bake Off in 2020, so she knows exactly what it’s like to be in that infamous tent under a lot of pressure. Perhaps that’s why she’s so good at providing support for the contestants. She has been there, done that, and got the floury t-shirt.
Caroline Waldegrave – The Fill-In Judge
Caroline Waldegrave isn’t a regular, but she deserves a mention. When Prue needed a break from the celebrity specials this year, Caroline stepped up. She’s mates with Prue and knows her stuff when it comes to food.
She only did a few episodes, but people liked her. She was calm, knowledgeable, and didn’t try to be something she wasn’t. Sometimes that’s all you need, innit? Someone who knows about baking and can tell you straight whether your cake’s any good.
Why Great British Baking Show Hosts Changing Matters So Much
Here’s the thing about Bake Off: we’re dead protective of it. When the Great British Baking Show host change was announced for the first time back in 2016, people went mental. There were headlines everywhere. Social media went into meltdown.
Why do we care so much? Because The Great British Baking Show isn’t just a cooking programme. It’s comfort telly. It’s what we watch when the world’s gone mad and we need something gentle and nice. The hosts are a massive part of that.
When you’ve got the right hosts, everything flows. The bakers feel safe. We feel cosy watching at home. But when are the hosts wrong? When they’re trying too hard or getting in the way? You can feel it immediately. The whole vibe’s off.
That’s why Matt’s time was controversial. That’s why everyone was worried when Mel and Sue left. That’s why people are so happy with Alison now. The hosts set the tone for the entire show.
What We’ve Learned After Fifteen Years
Looking back at all these different presenters, you can see what works and what doesn’t. The best hosts aren’t trying to be the star. They’re there to support the bakers and help us at home feel connected to what’s happening.
Mel and Sue got that. They were funny without making it about them. Sandi understood it in her own clever way. Noel eventually figured it out after a wobbly start. Alison just naturally has it.
Matt didn’t quite get there, bless him. And that’s fine. Not everyone’s right for every job. He’s brilliant at other stuff.
The judges have been more consistent. Paul’s never changed; as he’s always been the straight-talking northern bloke who knows his bread. Mary was warm but honest. Prue’s carrying on that tradition beautifully.
Where We Are Now
Right now, in October 2025, with Alison and Noel hosting and Paul and Prue judging, Bake Off’s in good shape. Series sixteen is cracking along nicely. The bakers are great, the challenges are tough but fair, and the hosts are doing their job without getting in the way.
Will Alison and Noel be there for years to come? Who knows? Mel and Sue managed seven series before calling it quits. Matt only lasted three. Sandi is the same. People’s lives change, other opportunities come up, that sort of thing.
But for now, we can relax. The tent’s in safe hands. The cakes are rising, the bread’s proving, and the hosts are making it all feel warm and lovely. That’s all we really want from Bake Off, innit?
Just people who care about baking, care about the contestants, and don’t take themselves too seriously. Keep it simple, keep it kind, keep it British. That’s the recipe that works.
