Alison Hammond confirms she is the new host of The Great British Bake Off

Alison Hammond has been named the new host of The Great British Bake Off, taking over from Matt Lucas, who left the show after last year. Hammond, a popular presenter on This Morning, will join comedian Noel Fielding and judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood in the tent for the show's 14th season.

Who is Alison Hammond?

Alison Hammond has been a beloved figure on British television for years. Her career began in 2002 when she appeared on the third series of Big Brother, becoming the second housemate to be evicted. Hammond went on to become a roving reporter on ITV's This Morning, where she has remained for the past two decades.

Over the years, she has also appeared on several other shows as a contestant, including Celebrity MasterChef in 2006, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2010, and Strictly Come Dancing in 2014. Recently, she co-hosted the Bafta film awards on BBC1 alongside Richard E Grant.

New role on Bake Off

On Thursday, Channel 4 announced that Alison Hammond would be the new host, marking the first time a non-white presenter will host or judge the show in its 14-year history. Hammond is excited to join the show and has already tweeted her enthusiasm, saying:

'It’s Official!! It’s happening The Great British Bake off! let’s have it – The cake that is so excited.'

Many fans are looking forward to seeing her bring her warmth and humor to the show, with one source saying: 'Alison is a great choice. She will bring warmth and humour to the tent in spades. We’re laughing just thinking about it.'

Fellow celebrities, including Louise Redknapp, Ashley James and dancer James Jordan, were quick to congratulate her online.

She would succeed the show's previous host, comedian Matt Lucas.

Matt Lucas joined the show as co-host during season 11 in 2020, replacing Sandi Toksvig. Lucas, known for his comedy roles in Little Britain, Come Fly With Me, and Doctor Who, among others, proved to be a popular addition to the show. However, he announced that he would be leaving the show after just one season to focus on his other commitments, reports Sky News.

The Great British Bake Off, often referred to simply as Bake Off, is a cooking competition show that has been on British television since 2010. The show has gained a massive following for its gentle and friendly approach to competition, with contestants vying to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with their baking skills.

Hammond's previous appearance on Bake Off

According to the Guardian, Hammond's selection for The Great British Bake Off comes after her appearance on the celebrity version for Stand Up 2 Cancer in 2020, where she impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with her baking skills and humor.

During the competition, she said: 'I do think that good food and good baking comes from the heart - and I’ve got a lot of heart.'

Despite her confidence, she struggled to bake her childhood dream of being a police officer, with Hollywood telling her: 'It’s a bit like a five-year-old has been given a load of biscuits to cut out.' However, her chocolate brownies with bright pink love-hearts on top impressed the judges, and Prue admitted: 'I don’t think we’ve ever met anybody with this much confidence.'

Read more:

⋙ The Great British Bake Off: Potential hosts to succeed Matt Lucas

⋙ Matt Lucas dramatically exits Bake Off due to this reason

⋙ Sandi Toksvig: Why did she quit as Great British Bake Off co-host?

⋙ The Great British Bake Off: Where is Mary Berry now?