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.

[jay55]

@knittingaddict I'd have loved it to have been Andi and Miquita Oliver presenting together.
But wouldn't want to lose her from GBM.

[mydogisthebest]

@lollipoprainbow

Everything will be 'amazing'

No it will be "amazing babes" screeched at the top of her voice

[Rhondaa]

@MadameSzyszkoBohusz

Actually I imagine she might irritate the hell out of Paul Hollywood. Might be worth watching just for that.

There is not a chance he'd let any irriation show. It's like the celebs she interviews for This Morning, everyone indulges her. I've no idea why. Think her loudness just has people going along with it and it ends up a who can laugh the loudest competition.

[MadameSzyszkoBohusz]

Actually I imagine she might irritate the hell out of Paul Hollywood. Might be worth watching just for that.

[lollipoprainbow]

Everything will be 'amazing'

[mum2jakie]

Alison Hammond! Wouldn't have predicted that. Sure she will be really warm and nurturing towards the contestants though. And loud, very loud!

[knittingaddict]

I don't think anyone visiting suggesting that Andi Oliver would be a judge. She would be amazing as a presenter and that's exactly what she does on TGBM, but I do think she's possibly too good for GBBO. They don't deserve her.

I love AO so much. She's such a warm, encouraging, supportive woman. I would watch GBBO just for her, but for her it would be dumbing down.

[EvilRingahBitch]

@ArcaneWireless

Andi Oliver would have been marvellous.

Andi's great, but she's not sufficiently well-qualified as a baker to be a judge on Bake Off (and there isn't a vacancy anyway), and she knows far too much about food to be a presenter. GBBO has an established formula which relies on the presenters being the uninformed voice of the viewer, if you paired an actual chef with a clueless comic it would unbalance the show.

[ExhaustedFlamingo]

@Ramble0n

Maybe they chose her because she was the best fit and not to fill the diversity quota. It's quite racist to assume she only got the gig because she is a black woman.

Tbh, it hadn't occurred to me until a couple of PP mentioned it.

Personally I don't think it's about diversity - I think it's just that AH is flavour of the month - in the same way that Rylan was a little while ago. Alex Scott suffered a little bit of the same too - she's great in the right shows but keeps being shoehorned into the wrong places that don't suit her knowledge/skills.

I definitely don't think AH was the best fit for the job. Maybe she'll tone it down and it won't be too bad. Fingers crossed.

Still think Andi Oliver would have been better though! Like @ArcaneWireless says, she would have been marvellous!

[ArcaneWireless]

Andi Oliver would have been marvellous.

[Ramble0n]

Maybe they chose her because she was the best fit and not to fill the diversity quota. It's quite racist to assume she only got the gig because she is a black woman.

[ExhaustedFlamingo]

I don't really mind AH usually - I'm not sure how genuine her whole persona is but I could say the same about lots of popular people on TV. The BAFTAs aside, I don't turn the TV off if AH is on (unlike Amanda Holden, for example - can't watch anything with her in it!)

But having said that, I don't think GBBO is the right show for AH. Her personality is too big, and she's so boisterous she can't help but be in the centre of everything - when it should be the contestants. I can imagine some of them being a bit overwhelmed by AH, which isn't ideal when they trying to focus on their baking.

If diversity is the reason AH was chosen, then that's a bit of a shame because she doesn't fit the vibe of the show.

If C4 were keen on picking a black woman, Andi Oliver would have been a FAR better choice. Andi Oliver would have been a wonderful choice even if diversity wasn't a priority - she has a gentle, warm demeanour that would really fit in beautifully. And of course she has insane knowledge about food and cooking, so double the benefits. I can imagine her working well with Noel, and really putting the contestants at ease without being quite so loud.

I would have loved to see Andi present GBBO.

[ArcaneWireless]

It is nothing to do with her size or colour.

Everything to do with what comes out of her mouth bab.

It just seems like the wrong show for her. Bake Off should be about the contestants. If she is on it then it won’t be.

[MintTeaAndChocolate]

I think she'll be better than Matt!

[Ramble0n]

I like her and prefer an upbeat presenter. I think she will be great.

[LadyEloise1]

"Babe" !!!
Oh ffs

[Schmutter]

Whilst I think she’s sometimes out of her depth, I reckon GBBO might be perfect for her. It’s not highbrow, just silly lighthearted stuff. I hope she does well. I like her upbeat style.

[TheGenerousGardener]

Noel makes my skin creep, I'm disappointed he's not leaving. I'm happy to give Alison Hammond a chance.

[Rhondaa]

@ChestnutGrove

It's not exactly shocking that Mail comments would be strongly against an overweight black woman.

But they're mostly all overweight and yes great that there's a black presenter. That isn't the issue it's her fake 'babes' and constant shrieking/bellowing when she laughs. Her faux bubbly persona grates.

[mydogisthebest]

@ChestnutGrove

It's not exactly shocking that Mail comments would be strongly against an overweight black woman.

While some may well dislike her because of her size and colour I would think the main reasons for disliking her is that she tries to make everything she is in all about her. Also her non stop screeching, her awful fake laugh and the calling everyone "babe".

[Janieread]

@ChestnutGrove

It's not exactly shocking that Mail comments would be strongly against an overweight black woman.

Exactly!

[ChestnutGrove]

@mydogisthebest

I think she is very marmite. I am sure some people will start watching because she is now going to be in it but I also think they will lose a lot of viewers who have watched for years.

There are a lot of negative posts on all the facebook posts about her being on it and The Mail comments are probably 90% negative

It's not exactly shocking that Mail comments would be strongly against an overweight black woman.

[knittingaddict]

@CharityShopChic

Oh no!! I lived Maggie and Matt!

I've just checked and the presenters are going too.

[mydogisthebest]

@ChestnutGrove

The people GBBO employ as presenters are very popular. They wouldn't use them otherwise. Obviously not everyone is going to like the presenters, but AH is extremely popular and will bring viewers who didn't previously watch GBBO.
I didn't find Mel and Sue funny but I guess some people liked them. I loved Sandi and Noel

I think she is very marmite. I am sure some people will start watching because she is now going to be in it but I also think they will lose a lot of viewers who have watched for years.

There are a lot of negative posts on all the facebook posts about her being on it and The Mail comments are probably 90% negative

[CharityShopChic]

Oh no!! I lived Maggie and Matt!