The Great British Bake Off presenters, from left: Noel Fielding, Sandi Tovsig, Paul Hollywood and Pru Leith

The Great British Bake Off is back tonight.

No wait, come back.

Frilly Keane writes:

Now there’s more than just a few of us about here waiting on this day since last November so I thought I’d bring it up. The rest of ye can stay in the closet.

Bake Off 2017 – Season 8; Week 1; but unlike other seasons, this year’s Bake Off or GBBO if you prefer, has us in bits; no Mel and Sue – which I have no problem with, and the fretting about whether it or we will survive without Mary Berry. And how will we cope with the ad breaks and product placements.

This is serious stuff.

Despite the fact that I already have it from someone that has seen the 1st episode that it’s all grand –as you were like, with Signature Bakes, Technicals and Show Stoppers; I’m still starving for it and desperate for it to work.

I posted here a while back about the Bake Off and the new line up when it was announced, I think it was in a morning papers thread, I was optimistic and positive then, and now I just can’t wait – so I don’t really care other than hoping I don’t miss Mary Berry too much.

Previous GBBOs had two very special ingredients; the Bakers and the relationship between Paul and Mary.

Twelve contestants will put on aprons in tonight’s tent. 6 boys 6 girls. (for the Gender Quota Auditors – seasons 2-8 have all been 50/50)

Tonight Paul will be partnered by Prue Leith. I don’t see much of a change in the dynamic here for us as viewers but I will be curious to find out if Prue is a fond of the boozy cakes as Mary was.

Paul did Bake Off USA without Mary Berry before (and we know how that went) and to be fair they have had very separate careers before Bake Off and since.

Bake Off made them prime-time regulars but, they remain Master Craftspersons (is that right?) they never went full sleb; what made Paul and Mary was that they remain 100% committed to their trades; it’s all about the Bake.

In the GBBO Competition, Bread week is the equivalent of the Men’s 100m; however, Bake Off will still be all about the Hand Shake. The Paul Hollywood Handshake. So, it doesn’t matter who is partnering him.

And for some Bakers you’ll meet tonight, getting the Paul Hollywood handshake more important than Star Baker. In my memory, there has only been one 2-hander and that was for last year’s Jane’s Pavlova.

There are two things I’m most excited about for this new era for Bake Off.

I can’t wait to see Noel Fielding slooping, flapping and hanging around over the work spaces and crouching down in front of the ovens alongside the bakers. I think he’s going to bring out the best in them and he’ll find a way to make Soggy Bottoms funny.

The other thing; Sandi Toksvig and Paul Hollywood. Somehow, and I hope I’m wrong, ‘cause you know, its frigging Paul Hollywood ffs, I think Sandi might just be getting the last word when Paul does his crosshairs thing with the white knuckle and blue eye daggers at a Baker ….

Incidentally, there is loads of ink given over the ratings and the audience C4 might get versus the 14million the BBC pulled in for last year’s final. I suspect tonight will be a record breaker for Channel 4. OK it’ll be no Durty Den on Christmas Day, but I believe Bake Off has a following loyal enough to stick with it.

Have a good Bake Off everyone.

The Great British Bake Off is on Channel 4 at 8pm.

Pics: Channel 4