The Great British Bake Off returns with just 4.4 million viewers

The Great British Bake Off returned to screens on Tuesday for its 13th series, with 4.4 million viewers tuning in to see the first hopeful eliminated from the show.

According to overnight figures, the numbers were 1.3 million down on last year’s opener, making it the lowest-viewed launch episode to date.

It comes after Channel 4 bosses confirmed that Bake Off would return to screens as planned despite the country being placed in national mourning, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Bake Off’s ratings were also a stark drop on its 2020 launch, when 6.9 million tuned in while the UK was in the midst of the Covid lockdown.

Figures showed a peak of 5.2 million viewers watched the opening episode, which saw 12 new bakers enter the tent in a bid to be crowned Star Baker.

After the episode, viewers gushed that the show had brought ‘comfort’ following the sad news of the Queen’s death, which has seen TV schedules change ahead of Monday’s funeral. 

The latest series of the show saw Will, 45, sadly become the first baker to be sent home, while Yanusz, 34, was crowned as star baker.

Sad: According to overnight figures, the numbers were 1.3 million down on last year’s opener, making it the lowest-viewed launch episode to date (eliminated baker Will is pictured)

Drop: Bake Off’s ratings were also a stark drop on its 2020 launch, when 6.9 million tuned in while the UK was in the midst of the Covid lockdown

It’s back! Will became the first person to leave the Bake Off tent in Tuesday’s opener, as viewers praised the show for bringing back happiness after the Queen’s death

Former charity director Will said he was ‘disappointed’ to be the first to leave the tent after he had a difficult few challenges, including forgetting to set his timer in the first challenge.

‘Somebody has got to go first. Obviously I’m disappointed, but I’m proud to have made it. I’ve met a lovely bunch of people and got an experience I can share,’ he said after his exit.

After the much-anticipated return of Bake Off, viewers were quick to take to Twitter to thank the series for ‘bringing back a slice of happiness’ and a ‘calming distraction’ at a time of mourning following the Queen’s death.

‘Slice of happiness’: Viewers expressed their joy at the show’s return, saying it brought ‘comfort’ following the sad news of the Queen’s death

‘Comfort’: The latest series of the Channel 4 show kicked off on Tuesday night and saw Will be the first baker to be sent home, while Yanusz (pictured) was the first to be crowned star baker

One person wrote: ‘Oh bake off, thank you for bringing back a slice of happiness.’

Another said: ‘Bake Off is the calming distraction I need from everything right now.’

A third commented: ‘Its not even funny how much i have been relying on the promise bake off for happiness all week.’

And a fourth added: ‘Happiness had been restored bake off is back on TV.’

While a fifth gushed: Never been so grateful bake off was moved to C4. Need the light entertainment at this point in the week.’

‘Bake Off is the calming distraction I need’: Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to thank the series for ‘bringing back a slice of happiness’

The Great British Bake Off aired as planned on Tuesday amid recent scheduled changes following the Queen’s death.

Her Majesty passed away aged 96 on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Castle and her coffin arrived at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday ahead of her funeral on Monday. 

Amid a period of mourning following the death of the country’s longest-reigning monarch, many TV shows have been cancelled in favour of news coverage.

Strictly Come Dancing’s launch show has been postponed until Friday September 23, after originally being set to air on September 17, but Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off went ahead as planned.

So sad: The country’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died ‘peacefully’, aged 96, at Balmoral in Scotland on Thursday

Fans were eagerly awaiting the return of the show, and they weren’t disappointed as it kicked off with an amusing Star Wars introduction filled with baking style puns.

As the Star Wars theme tune blared, the introductory words flew on screen, reading: ‘A long time ago in a tent far, far away.’

Hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding brought their comedic flare as they dressed up as versions of Luke and Leila Skywalker, with Noel wearing bread as her signature bun hairstyle.

Amusing: Fans had been eagerly awaiting the return of the Great British Bake Off, and they weren’t disappointed as it kicked off with an amusing Star Wars introduction

Humour: Prue Leith then appeared as Chewbacca, while Paul entered as Darth Vadar, before slicing Matt’s pie in half with his lightsaber, joking ‘it’s a little on the dark side’

Prue Leith then appeared as Chewbacca, while Paul entered as Darth Vadar, before slicing Matt’s pie in half with his lightsaber, joking ‘it’s a little on the dark side’. 

Viewers were then introduced to the 12 contestants as Noel and Matt revealed the first signature challenge of the series.

The hosts told the contestants that they were to make mini sandwich cakes, but could make them in any shape of flavour they desired. 

Matt jokingly told the contestants: ‘You have one hour.’

They’re back! Viewers were then introduced to the 12 contestants as Noel and Matt revealed the first signature challenge of the series

His revelation was met by gasps from the contestants, but he then revealed the true time they had allocated, saying: ‘A sandwich between two halves, you have two hours!’

Revealing what they expected from the bakers in the first task, Prue said: ‘We’re looking for a bit of originality.’

While Paul added: ‘It’s the first time the bakers are going to show us what they are going to bake, so this is really important.’

The bakers got started on their first bakes, with Rebecca making hazelnut mocha latte sandwiches and software engineer Abdul making raspberry jam filled treats. 

Career: Dawn, who was making lime and tamarind spring cakes, used to be a project manager for Boris Johnson, and said she got the chance to meet the former Prime Minister in her work

Full time nanny Sandro said he was making chocolate flower pods filled with red wine ganache, while Kevin made Persian Love Cakes with a rose water and cardamon sponge, and James made sticky coffee apple candles.

Dawn, who was making lime and tamarind spring cakes, used to be a project manager for Boris Johnson, and said she got the chance to meet the former Prime Minister in her work.

But all did not go smoothly for the bakers, as Will had an early blunder after putting his ginger and caramel squares in the oven, revealing he forgot to turn his timer on.

‘C**p, I forgot to turn it on!’, he said, but insisted he would be able to visually tell when his treats were done.

Oh no! But all did not go smoothly for the bakers, as Will had an early blunder after putting his ginger and caramel squares in the oven, revealing he forgot to turn his timer on

And Maxy also started feeling the pressure as Matt announced they had just one hour left, but she was yet to bake her meringues, which take an hour to bake. 

Things continued to heat up for Will as his Italian meringue split twice, leaving him very stressed in the final moments of the two-hour task.

‘I need to make a buttercream, how do I make a buttercream? Butter and sugar,’ he stressed.

Youngest baker Maisam, who made pistachio sponge filled with raspberry jam and buttercream, also faced a hurdle when her own buttercream curdled, with her saying: ‘It will take some time to fix it.’

Disaster: Things continued to heat up for Will as his Italian meringue split twice, leaving him very stressed in the final moments of the two-hour task

Tense: Youngest baker Maisam, who made pistachio sponge filled with raspberry jam, faced a hurdle when her own buttercream curdled, with her saying: ‘It will take some time to fix it’

She ended the challenge by admitting she was pleased with the flavour of her cakes but not the look of them, as she prepared for her first judging. 

Rebecca, known as Rebs, also said she was having a ‘frigging nightmare’ as she tried to assemble her cakes. 

Prue and Paul did not shy away from giving honest feedback, criticising Maisam’s bakes for their ‘messy’ appearance while Rebs was told to be ‘careful’ with her flavours by Paul.

Carol received high praise from Paul and Prue, who gushed over how her bee-themed sandwich cakes looked, and also the exceptional flavour.

Sensational: Carol received high praise from Paul and Prue, who gushed over how her bee-themed sandwich cakes looked, and also the exceptional flavour

Overjoyed: Sandro, Abdul and Maisam were also thrilled after receiving excellent comments from the judges

Sandro, Abdul and Maisam were also thrilled after receiving excellent comments from the judges.

Prue said Will had been hit by the pressure of the ‘Bake Off tent’ when he said his meringue had gone wrong, before describing his bake as ‘disappointing’.

‘It’s interesting to have a disaster in your first challenge, not my finest moment I think it’s fair to say,’ Matt admitted as he spoke after the challenge.

Paul then set the bakers first technical challenge, which was revealed to be an ‘all American classic’ red velvet cake.

Setback: Prue said Will had been hit by the pressure of the ‘Bake Off tent’ when he said his meringue had gone wrong, before describing his bake as ‘disappointing’

In traditional Bake Off style, bakers were left stressed by the vague instructions, which simply told them to make the red velvet cake.

Dawn left Noel in stitches as she revealed she was ‘probably under the influence of alcohol’ last time she made a red velvet cake more than ten years ago.

Rebs was faced with a disaster as her cakes sunk when she took them out of the oven due to not being done yet, as the bakers got started on the frosting.

At the end of the tense challenge, Rebs said she was ‘so annoyed’ at the result of her bake, while other contestants had mixed reviews on their final products.

Next task: Paul then set the bakers first technical challenge, which was revealed to be an ‘all American classic’ red velvet cake

Ranking the 12 red velvet cakes, James and Rebs came in the bottom, with Dawn coming in third, Sandro making second place and Syabira securing the top spot.

‘I’ll pick myself up, and make sure my cake is fully cooked,’ Rebs said.

While a happy Sandro added: ‘Second is kinda first, innit?’

Ahead of the third challenge, Paul deemed Maisam, Rebs and Will were all at risk of going home, while Abdul, Sandro, Janusz and Syabira were in line for star baker.

Trials: Rebs was faced with a disaster as her cakes sunk when she took them out of the oven due to not being done yet, as the bakers got started on the frosting

Judges: Ranking the 12 red velvet cakes, James and Rebs came in the bottom, with Dawn coming in third

In the show-stopper, the bakers were challenged to make a cake model of any home where they have lived.

‘The most important thing is that it’s solid, we don’t want the roof blowing off, we don’t want the house falling down, Prue said.

Many of the bakers paid tribute to their childhood homes with their cakes, including Janusz, Will, Maxy and Kevin.

As the challenge became tense, Abdul was faced with a complete disaster when he took his cake out of the oven, only to realise it hadn’t been turned on for 40 minutes.

Over the moon: In the technical challenge, Sandro made second place and Syabira (picturd) secured the top spot

Happy baker: A happy Sandro said: ‘Second is kinda first, innit?’

He then dropped his cake out of the oven, but thankfully managed to save it as it landed with the baking tray hitting the floor.

And he was not the only one with a setback, as Rebs admitted she needed ‘a minute’ to herself and said she felt she was ‘going to be sick’ as she realised her sponge wasn’t fully baked.

Will admitted he was struggling for time, while Rebs said ‘panicking is for losers’ as she ploughed on despite her difficulties with her sponge cake.

The bakers raced to the finish line as they constructed their homes out of cake, putting the final icing touches on their designs ahead of judging.

Challenges: In the show-stopper, Abdul was faced with a complete disaster when he took his cake out of the oven, only to realise it hadn’t been turned on for 40 minutes

Baking trials: Rebs admitted she needed ‘a minute’ to herself and said she felt she was ‘going to be sick’ as she realised her sponge wasn’t fully baked

Despite her difficulties, Rebs was left tearful as Paul and Prue praised her Pina Colada cake, praising the flavours and the look of her cake.

Paul then jokingly shouted ‘boo’ at Maxy as she nervously came to collect her cake after admitting that Paul scared her more than Prue out of the two judges.

Dawn also received gushing feedback from Paul and Prue, but Will came up short as Paul said he had over-baked every single cake and Maisam also received criticism.

Janusz uniquely put soy sauce in his cake, but the flavour paid off as Prue described it as ‘utterly delicious’, adding: ‘I can’t fault it.’

Pleased: Despite her difficulties, Rebs was left tearful as Paul and Prue praised her Pina Colada cake, praising the flavours and the look of her cake

Unique: Janusz uniquely put soy sauce in his cake, but the flavour paid off as Prue described it as ‘utterly delicious’, adding: ‘I can’t fault it’

Happy: And announcing the first star baker of the series, Noel said: ‘This week’s star baker is, Janusz’

Speaking after the challenge, Janusz said: ‘Being named star baker would be like winning the series as I love making cake.’

And announcing the first star baker of the series, Noel said: ‘This week’s star baker is, Janusz.’ 

While Matt then said: ‘If it was up to me I’d keep you all here and send one of the judges home. 

Gaffe: Janusz made viewers, and his boyfriend, laugh when he announced he was the ‘star caker of bake week’ in a tongue-tied announcement on the phone to his partner

First to exit: But it was Will who was the first to be sent home, with his fellow bakers rallying around him to give their support 

‘But it’s not up to me and we have to send one of you home, which seems very early. But the person leaving us is, Will.’

‘Honestly Will, you should just feel proud,’ Prue said.

‘Somebody has got to go first. Obviously I’m disappointed, but I’m proud to have made it. I’ve met a lovely bunch of people and got an experience I can share,’ Will said. 

After his success, a tearful Janusz said: ‘I think my boyfriend will be really proud, he will say, ‘you can make cake and I’ve told you that you can make cake’.’ 

But he made viewers, and his boyfriend, laugh when he announced he was the ‘star caker of bake week’ in a tongue-tied announcement on the phone to his partner.

In the episode’s closing credits, the Channel 4 show aired a tribute to their food producer Chloe Avery, who died last month. 

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

Sweet: ‘Somebody has got to go first. Obviously I’m disappointed, but I’m proud to have made it. I’ve met a lovely bunch of people and got an experience I can share,’ Will said