Chef Paul Hollywood and restaurateur Prue Leith, who made a name for themselves with The Great British Baking Show in the UK, are launching a US version with the Roku channel. Here’s everything you need to know.
Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith coming to America
Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith have been making the rounds doing interviews with major media outlets and showing off the trailer for The Great American Baking Show, which will debut on the Roku Channel streaming platform on May 5.
Similar to the British version, the judges will return to their iconic tent, this time bringing with them a team of nine amateur American bakers who will compete to be crowned as America’s best, People reported.
“I’m hoping that these bakers will bring something new to the tent,” Leith says in the preview.
“I’m rather hoping that these bakers will bring something new to the tent,” Prue Leith says in the preview. “America genuinely is the great melting pot of the world.”
Paul Hollywood teases that this is the “best group” of Americans he’s judged so far, Entertainment Tonight reported.
In more comical moments from the previews, one contestant makes the surprising revelation they’ve never had a hamburger before.
In another segment, Leith compares a baker’s result to “concrete” that threatens to break off the judge’s teeth.
Meet the Bakers: How the contest works
The nine bakers competing for the right to call themselves America’s best amateur baker are Martin Sorge, Nirali Chauhan, Stacie Nakamoto, Dyana O’Brien, Susa Simpson, Karis Stucker, Jonathan Gottfried, Sarah Chang, and Sean Liu.
The preview shows the nine hopefuls creating a variety of sweet-looking treats.
Each week, the show has a challenge. There is the “signature challenge,” where bakers must show off their tried and tested recipes. There’s a “blind technical challenge,” in which the bakers are tasked with producing a result with limited instructions. There’s also a “showstopper challenge,” in which the bakers are free to show off their skills and talent.
Celebrity special contests
During the season, there will also be forthcoming specials, such as one featuring celebrity holiday amateur bakers. In the preview, former NFL superstar Marshawn Lynch asked the judges for a little help with his dessert, as seen in this video interview with Good Morning America.
