The thirty-second TV show: #854 The Great British Bake-Off
A bit of an unexpected pick perhaps, we're taking this one on because of societal pressure. So many colleagues and friends were watching that we didn't want to be left out of the conversation. Several more also started watching with this season, so that worked out, although we also went back a bit.
Bake-Off feels incredibly British. Unlike other reality shows, it's not flashy. There are no dramatic storylines. It's all about the bakers and their skills and it shows. Their personalities absolutely come through, and you get your favourite, but it's all positive. There is also a lot of mutual support, which the show likes to make visible. There are plenty of times where they end up helping each other out. It looks really nice that way, even if it's incredibly high pressure.
In the end, that also comes down to the presenters. Mel & Sue are a good double act, not just funny but incredibly supportive towards everyone in competition as well. You see them breaking the tension, calming down and sometimes acting as a school teacher to make sure people keep going. It's touching, it's fun, it's British, and it makes it such a great show to watch. As long as you're not hungry as you watch. That is deadly.