Unique Story Elements that Draw You In (And the Perils of Changing the Formula): The Great British Bake Off
After years of hearing about it on Tumblr, catching glimpses and snippets of it on TV, and watching a few episodes of a spin-off, I finally started properly watching The Great British Bake-Off/The Great British Baking Show (referenced from here on as GBBO). [1] I’d been feeling drained and tired, and needed something both light yet interesting enough to capture my full attention. Luckily, I decided to browse my favourites on CBC Gem, and remembered that all seasons of GBBO are free to watch on there.
I queued it up – and fell in love. When the internet (Tumblr) talked about how kind and nice and feel-good the show is – at least the early seasons – they were 100% right! It really is such a kind show.
Having been a devotee of the Food Network for years, and burning out slightly on a lot of shows I’d loved and watched avidly, it was nice coming back to that environment with this show. What struck me the most apart from the dated video quality and quirky production choices[2] (I mean this with love), was three great and unique elements.
The first element only became clear at the finale, and I noticed it throughout the second season; perhaps it isn’t unique, but having mostly watched competitions or contests where a monetary reward was front and center, it was a bit of a shock to realize that there didn’t seem to be that kind incentive here. There may have been an actual prize that just wasn’t really mentioned on screen, and there really is nothing wrong with gaining a large monetary prize and/or built-in career opportunities that you can use to change your life. It’s just that in seasons 1 and 2 of GBBO, the contestants are entering for the love of baking and simply the title itself of Britain’s best amateur baker. That’s it: prove yourself and learn.
Secondly, how the show is kind and tailored to its contestants. Apart from the supportive environment itself (hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc being absolute darlings, the interest of the judges, the camaraderie between the bakers, and Paul Hollywood unable to not give advice and try to rescue a situation despite himself), I realized that the show takes place on weekends. Most of the bakers have jobs and/or other responsibilities, and can keep fulfilling these while taking part. Again, likely not unique, but I don’t remember watching other shows where it’s as explicit or built in. Most competitions these days seem to be months-long endeavours where you have to put your normal life on hold. I also realized that, for the first bake of each weekend – the signature bake – the bakers have been told what it will be ahead of time. It seems as though it may have been the case for some of the showstopper challenges as well. There’s no huge surprise, and they can spend the week practicing and preparing. To me, that also feels new and nice. To be fair, this could also all be a UK vs North America sensibility kind of thing, since I mostly watched US shows and their Canadian spin-offs on Food Network, or an older show vs newer vibe difference.
Now, the most unique thing I noticed while binging my way through seasons l and 2 of GBBO, and one of the elements that really cemented my appreciation and love for the show, are the historical tangents. Usually related to the theme of the week, but not always the specific dish the bakers are currently making, the audience gets a fun history lesson and a demonstration of some traditional dish or other. The hosts interview historians, bake at least one dish the way it had been made in that period, and tie it back to the actively-running bake.
It’s fun, it’s interesting, and it gives some good background and explanation especially to those of us not super familiar with a lot of British baking apart from tea and scones.[3] Along with the informative voice-overs explaining the recipe (the science and tips and tricks) while the bakers are making their focaccia or choux buns or Cornish pasties, it’s educational and inspiring in the best sort of way. I’ve learned about some dishes I’d never known were a thing (such as Irish Soda Bread), been inspired to bake new recipes, and realized that some kinds of baking actually might be feasible and not out of my grasp at all! Many a day recently have I sat on my couch, all but bursting with excitement to watch the next episode, and taking notes of what I’d like to try baking next.
Except now we come to Season 3. Now, it is possible the UK gets a longer cut than what is available to North American viewers; try to read any recap of any Call the Midwife episode (great show, and all seasons are also free to watch on CBC Gem!) and you’ll quickly realize there’s always at least one scene that’s mentioned yet never there in the episode you’ve just watched. Presumably the episodes we have access to on Netflix and such aren’t the full ones, or maybe the aired episode is cut down when it gets to streaming.[4] However, whether or not the same is true for GBBO, the fact remains that when I watch Season 3, the historical tangents and cool background info on the week’s theme are nowhere to be found. Perhaps episode 3 of Season 3 will have them, or another later season will bring them back. I certainly hope so, because now my usual joy of sitting down and settling into the fun cozy and informative vibe of GBBO is accompanied by a rising frustration.
I decided to write this newsletter in the first place because my thought after finishing episode 2, and realizing that there likely wouldn’t be a historical tangent in episode 3, was: where’s the draw in continuing to watch? What makes GBBO different from any other cooking show that I’ve moved away from over time? What’s the point?
I realized how much I loved this element while watching season 2, but only now that it’s gone do I understand how much of a core part of the show’s appeal (for me at least) was that historical segue into how Queen Victoria popularized the now-traditional 3-tiered white wedding cake, or why shortbread is considered to be a Scottish point of pride, or how cupcakes were invented, or even how breads and cakes evolved as times, technology, and access to ingredients changed.
The fact that I was looking forward to learning about even more new-to-me recipes that are still being made today was quite a factor in wanting to start season 3. Sure, there’s still the instructional bits about how to make the tart or eight-plaited loaf or flatbread as the bakers are actually making it.[5] Sure, Mel and Sue are being amazing as always, and the bakers themselves are incredibly easy to root for. I’ll likely finish season 3, at least, and it’s still a good show to put on as an engaging pick-me up. It’s just that a large part of its uniqueness to me, its draw that made me stay and differentiated it from yet another baking looking TV contest show, is now gone.
Expecting the next episode, or the one after that, to include that element when the first two episodes haven’t had it, is an exercise in fruitless frustration and will only lead to disappointment. In making my peace with this fact, nonetheless, I’m making my peace that GBBO has been relegated to a lower tier in my internal list of shows I love and that I’m excited to watch and finish. At least this means I might prioritize other shows and movies on my list?
I’m the kind of person who usually never puts on something as background noise. Even if it’s fluff and popcorn food, I give it my full focus, because otherwise what’s the point of putting it on? However, if I were that kind of person, GBBO might be relegated to the more background noise of show. It’s still great and lovely! But now it’s just another baking contest show that I’ll likely burn myself out on in one or two seasons.
If anything, it demonstrates the importance of identifying the elements you love or loathe about a story or a production, and being honest with yourself if that element changes or is taken away. The show itself is well within its rights to change the formula, and has devout fans to this day. I understand that well. I also understand that it means I’m no longer as invested in watching it. Such is life and media. Lessons to be learned there, I suppose, for viewers, readers, and writers alike.
All this said, if you live in Canada and you have not already done so, I highly recommend getting CBC Gem! All you have to do is create a free account, which you can also use for other CBC offerings as well, and you’ll have access to so many cool shows and movies and documentaries for free! It has shows and movies that you’d otherwise have to pay a BritBox or Prime or Peacock subscription for, such as Call the Midwife, Joan, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, and Poker Face, as well as award-winning movies such as The Shape of Water and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and of course Canadian favourites ranging from Murdoch Mysteries to North of North.
[1] I had to look this up, and it’s the same show, just known under different names. In the UK it’s the Great British Bake Off, and in North America it’s The Great British Baking Show. Since my exposure to it online has been through its UK title, I just refer to it as the Great British Bake Off (GBBO).
[2] I did look up when the show first aired, and was slightly surprised it was early 2010s and not early 2000s, to be honest
[3] I always forget that puddings mean cake rather than actual liquid pudding, for example, and I never knew what a Battenburg cake looked until this show.
[4] I’ve never had a BritBox subscription, so I don’t know if the full cut is available there.
[5] I learned about the blind baking technique, for example, where you put baking beans or something similar on foil to bake tarts or cupcakes.