Noel Fielding hosting Bake Off on Channel 4

[PamplemousseRouge]

Sorry if this already has been written about in a thread elsewhere.

I've just seen that Noel Fielding (the comedian from The Mighty Boosh) is confirmed as the new host of the Bake Off alongside Sandi Toksvig.

I'm quite surprised, to be honest. What does everyone else think?

I can't stand Mel, I get the irrational urge to push her face in to the cakes every time I watch, I love Noel but can't imagine him on a cooking show, could be interesting

I'm too old for Noel Fielding, I don't find him ironic or offbeat or quirky. I just find him an arse. I'm from the 80's, when male pop stars wore make up and had bouffy hair, so him having this look doesn't shock or interest me.

saying that I think GBBO and all the hype surrounding it is shit anyway.

Awww, I think Noel is quite a sweet person. Though he may not be your taste, I think it's a bit much to say he's an arsehole - he's not, really! He's quite empathetic and kind - just ALSO the kind of person who would casually wear a cape.

agree with worra, Mel and Sue are utterly appalling

thank fuck I'm not young, the entertainment kids get these days is crap, no wonder they are all on youtube

Can't stand Sandi Toksvig, her voice makes me want to scream so I'm definitely oot.

I think it's only fair to give them all a chance. Kindness please.

Simon Amstell turned his back on presenting OP which is a shame as he was very good at it: I enjoyed his stand up and the sitcom he wrote. He has a book due out September but so far, I know nothing about it other than it is called Help. Oh and according to a Guardian interview he now has a boyfriend, which is nice as in his stand up routines he seemed so vulnerable/low self esteem I always wanted to just give him a huge hug. Very different to the presenting persona.

I quite enjoyed the Mighty Boosh but haven't found him funny on anything else. Think I'll be giving this a miss.

Really weird choice of presenters!

I just wanted to agree with a PP that Noel is a genuinely lovely man and I've completely changed my mind about watching GBBO on Channel 4 now. I really wasn't bothered until today's announcement

Superb casting, can't wait!

Like Sandi, but not sure she's right for GBBO, she's witty but is she 'warm' enough?
Prue Leith I find quite hard nosed and I've had enough of hearing her bang on about finding perfect love in her dotage.
Noel Fielding is half-rate, IMO in all respects. I've never found him funny, and find him a very odd choice for GBBO.
Never liked schmoooze ball Hollywood.
I'll probably still watch though and just grumble form my armchair like Catherine Tate's Nan.

I think Bake Off needed a shake up, it was the same tired old jokes about soggy bottoms and ready, set, BAKE.

By the way, are they doing sewing bee any more?

I thought the person from Gogglebox was meant to host it?

It'll be fine

I lurve Noel, I like Sandi, I have no feelings either way about Prue Leith, I find Paul very disconcerting, and not in a good way.

I never liked Mel and Sue, and I was unable to watch throne cast after Sue? Took over (I find them as confusing as Ant &Dec as to which one is which)

I always felt like a sponge somewhere sunk every time they spoke.

But I also find Sandi annoying, I always have done.

I'm sure they are all lovely people just not my cuppa tea for baking.

Is Pru still doing it? Because I adore Pru!

I hope they are doing the sewing bee! i love that along with the poetry

Far better than GBBO

He had a pop up shop within Maison Bertaux (patisserie in Soho). It sold objet d'art. So he probably knows his puff from his choux.

I hope that Daran C'Ache makes a guest appearance. Maybe to judge swiss meringue.

Pru is doing it and getting paid more than Mary got allegedly.
Noel Fielding was very good in the IT crowd.
I try to keep an open mind because we all have off days, but him calling a woman "dumb fuck" and "big nose" on twitter (she had called him out on his use of the word retarded) is the opposite of empathetic and kind. He also encouraged followers to mob some critic en masse (fly my beauties fly). So I don't see him as a genuinely lovely man either but maybe he is different in person.

I'm sorry but I find his face very irritating. I know he can't help it but there you are. It'll be all about him being wacky like Timmy Mallett.

I think part of the reason it worked so well with Mel and Sue was that they were so supportive and kind to the contestants and gave them space for their personalities to come out.

Interestingly I read something that in the first season the production team wanted to push to create more drama, and generate more tears and stress in the standard reality TV style, and Mel and Sue put their foot down and threatened to leave.

Sandi Toksvig I can see being similar to Sue Perkins, as long as she can be empathetic enough.

Noel Fielding is a very left-field choice and I am sure must have been chosen in part to get people to tune in out of curiosity - I was in the 'GBBO is dead to me' camp but I think I am going to have to watch now to see how he fares. He's a very big presence in anything I have seen him on I'm not sure I can imagine him giving the bakers the kind of spacecand support they got from Mel and Sue.

I would have liked to see Dawn French, I think she would have rocked it in Vicar of Dibley mode - but I do like Sandi. And Prue Leith is a good choice too.

REALLY not sure about Noel - I'll give it a couple of eps because I love the show, but I'm not optimistic...

I was flabbergasted by the choice! I love the IT Crowd, and I liked The Mighty Boosh, but that worked because Julian Barratt balanced him out. When he's left to run riot he's rubbish IMHO (Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy, anyone?). Maybe the ladies will keep him in check!

I also can't stand NF. I think GBBO and I have now parted ways....