The Great British Bake Off host Noel Fielding has teased a “devastating” moment from the new series.
The Channel 4 show returns tonight (September 24) with its 15th series, with Fielding being joined by co-host Alison Hammond as a new batch of bakers attempt to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
Ahead of the premiere, Fielding - who joined the show during the eighth series back in 2017 - spoke with The Guardian about the upcoming series, sharing that one moment left him feeling 'devastated'.
Related: Bake Off winner says "frugal" upbringing inspired new show
“I’ve always really enjoyed hanging out with the bakers,” he began. “I befriend them and get them to open up. Nobody expected that to be my strength. I assumed it’d be the sketches and banter.
“In fact, I’m fascinated by the people. I feel protective of them. If Paul and Prue are hard on them, I’m absolutely livid. It’s devastating when they leave. This year I was particularly fond of one baker. When I had to send them home, I cried.”
What to Read Next
Fielding, who has previously hosted the show with Sandi Toksvig and Matt Lucas, spoke about his hosting stint, sharing his surprise at the fact that he’s been in the role longer than original duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.
Related: Best film and TV tours for 2024
“I loved that original lineup, with Mary [Berry], Mel and Sue, as much as anyone. When me and Sandi took over, we were terrified. We knew it was a massive risk. We said: ‘Let’s see if we can last one series.’ The fact that I’m still here is amazing,” he added, before touching on his experience of hosting alongside Alison.
“What I love about Alison – and I mean this with the greatest of respect – is that she’s an absolute klutz. If anyone’s going to fall out of a hammock, it’ll be her. She also fell backwards off one of the workbenches while showing off. Don’t worry, she was OK. No Hammonds were harmed in the making of this series.”
The Great British Bake Off and its spin-off Bake Off: An Extra Slice both air on Channel 4 in the UK. In the US, it's known as The Great British Baking Show, and streams on Netflix.
Read more Great British Bake Off news on our dedicated homepage
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
