Matt Lucas to leave GBBO. Hallelujah!

[nowgoingout]

Sky news reporting tonight that Matt Lucas says he doesn't have time for GBBO anymore, which IMO means he's been asked to leave as he completely unfunny and utterly annoying.

I cannot bear his puerile "antics" on GBBO and am at a loss why he was ever appointed or indeed why he has a reputation for being amusing. He has been the worst part of the show for the last three years.

I wonder who they will get in. Really needs to be female to balance it up.

[KurriKawari]

Glad he's leaving but also worried about who they'll bring in. Who would you like OP?

I'd love-
Nadiya Hussain
Ellie Taylor

[watcherintherye]

Jo Brand would be good, if she wasn’t already doing ‘GBBO An Extra Slice’. (I don’t know why, but I always want to call it ‘GBBO A Bit on the Side’!)

[Starlitexpress]

Jenny Eclair has auditioned in the past, would quite like to see her do it for her name alone 😄

[Romeiswheretheheartis]

I don't see why they need two hosts, all the other shows - Sewing Bee etc- only have one. It's only because they started out with a double act, Sue and Mel. I think Noel would be better on his own.

[MadameSzyszkoBohusz]

I'd quite like Noel to leave too!

Nadiya Hussain is a great shout but she'd better as a judge if Pru ever wants to retire. Jo Brand would be good but I can't see her as a double act with Noel.

Sarah Millican? I agree it should definitely be a woman this time, and she's got the right combination of gentle humour and warmth. Plus I imagine she likes cake!

[Squeezedsquash]

If only they can get rid of NF too. Their humour makes it barely watchable now.

[DuncanBiscuits]

I might be able to start watching it again now. Matt Lucas is the luckiest man in showbiz. Completely unfunny, with a barely-concealed undercurrent of nastiness.

Sarah Millican is a great shout. I’m surprised she hasn’t done any presenting, actually.

[Ramble0n]

Shame. I like him and NF.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I agree it only really needs one person, not a double act. Mel and Sue were good. Warm and supportive, personable, and mildly amusing. (Mel has successfully done this again on the woodworking show.) I didn't take to Sandi Toksvig in the role and I haven't warmed to Matt Lucas either, although he hasn't been as bad as I expected. Noel is all right, I suppose. If he goes, they should definitely look for a woman to replace him.

What would really refresh the show for me is if they went back to basics next year. No more ridiculously complex challenges that nobody could possibly do to a good standard in the time, and which are so elaborately decorated that the cake or biscuit underneath is all but forgotten. What I'd like to see is something more like the Flower and Produce show on The Archers - make scones, Victoria Sandwich filled with home-made jam, flapjacks, good bread, and so on.

Won't happen, though! They'll carry on with 'The judges would love you to make a 3D biscuit scene that represents the history of the universe from the Big Bang onwards, and you have half an hour, starting NOW!'

[hellocleveland]

I agree with the Ellie Taylor suggestion. I loved her when she stood in for a while on the Throw Down. She'd be absolutely perfect.

[Brefugee]

gosh this is great news. I might tune in again next year (if the challenges get back to normal)

[Janieread]

If Sarah Millican gets it then I'd never watch again.

Tbh Paul Hollywood is the worst thing about it.

[astronewt]

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck

He was so. Painfully. Awful. Unfunny, cringey, and often downright mean. It was often clear the bakers wanted him to fuck right off but were too on camera to say so.

[Tillylime]

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

I agree it only really needs one person, not a double act. Mel and Sue were good. Warm and supportive, personable, and mildly amusing. (Mel has successfully done this again on the woodworking show.) I didn't take to Sandi Toksvig in the role and I haven't warmed to Matt Lucas either, although he hasn't been as bad as I expected. Noel is all right, I suppose. If he goes, they should definitely look for a woman to replace him.

What would really refresh the show for me is if they went back to basics next year. No more ridiculously complex challenges that nobody could possibly do to a good standard in the time, and which are so elaborately decorated that the cake or biscuit underneath is all but forgotten. What I'd like to see is something more like the Flower and Produce show on The Archers - make scones, Victoria Sandwich filled with home-made jam, flapjacks, good bread, and so on.

Won't happen, though! They'll carry on with 'The judges would love you to make a 3D biscuit scene that represents the history of the universe from the Big Bang onwards, and you have half an hour, starting NOW!'

Totally agree.
GBBO is more like a game show now.

[Timetochangetheoil]

Dawn French

[334bu]

Noel was OK with Sandi but with Matt awful.

[CharityShopChic]

I stopped watching GBBO years ago. Can't stand most of the judges and presenters.

Highly recommend the Australian one which is available for streaming on All 4 - much better.

[olympicsrock]

I like both ML and NF on GBBO

[astronewt]

Noel was OK with Sandi, but his gonzo-random Goth thing needs to be grounded in sanity and warmth on the other side or it just comes off self-absorbed and irritating.

I actually prefer Prue to Mary Berry - I quite enjoy the way she alternately flirts with and takes the piss out of Paul - keeps him in his place a bit. Hollywood gonna Hollywood til the end of time, but he does know his bread and at least the show is aware of how ridiculous he is.

[HamSandwichKiller]

I'd like French and Saunders to take it on. Even though I do like Noel.

So glad Matt Lucas is leaving, he just seems sad / angry. He was doing a very poor job of it.

[LadyGardenersQuestionTime]

Good. I’m happy with just Noel too. Now if they can get back to some challenges that make sense, rather than ridiculously difficult, obscure or irrelevant things that aren’t baking (tacos? Really?) I can start fully enjoying it again.

[MissyB1]

Right just need to get rid of the very annoying Noel and totally arrogant Paul H now!
Prue Leith, Mary Berry and French and Saunders would be my ideal line up.

[NewToWoo]

French and Saunders or Saunders and Lumley...

[Hopelessacademic]

@MissyB1

Right just need to get rid of the very annoying Noel and totally arrogant Paul H now!
Prue Leith, Mary Berry and French and Saunders would be my ideal line up.

Ooh yes! Mumsnet needs an upvote button for this!

[TugboatAnnie]

I don't understand why it needs comedians at all! Some one with a personality and sense of humour and with an interest in cooking would be my brief.