Why I Love ‘The Great British Baking Show’: The Most Soothing Reality Show Ever

My mom and I have several habits in common. Among them: We both fall asleep to past seasons of The Great British Baking Show (GBBS), the most serene reality show on TV. Mom in Cleveland, where she bakes for fun; me in New Jersey, where my stand mixer gathers dust.

Why we love ‘The Great British Baking Show’

Televised on PBS and Netflix in the U.S., GBBS is the antithesis of TV’s usual bounty of high-stress, over-the-top competition shows. The show’s charm starts with its setting: a picturesque white tent set amid the idyllic English country-side. Viewers get a twinkling intro complete with a little girl delighting in a raspberry, then watch hosts who are kind tell jokes that are silly, while watching the most incredible creations emerge from ovens. But it’s the bakers themselves that make for the most comforting TV. 

On the walk through a sunny meadow to the tent (where everyone endures 16-hour days of baking and filming), none of them whoop, twirl or arm pump. When bakes fail, other contestants hop in to help. When star bakers are named, the new friends clap and grin.

As a viewer, I join the world in crushing on “bad guy” judge Paul Hollywood, with his steely blue eyes, hands in jeans pockets and intense, watchful stare. (He’s a teddy bear at heart.)

I adore his co-judge Prue Leith, with her primary-colored statement jewelry and a kind word for all but the most disastrous creations. (She’s a Michelin-starred chef, caterer and food writer.)

And I become attached to the bakers I watch stir, frost and plate. We meet their families, see their homes and watch them grow and learn their craft. 

Among the many talented bakers who have graced the tent, Ruby Bhogal stands out. Appearing in the show’s ninth season, Ruby quickly won hearts with an infectious enthusiasm, warm personality, creative flair and impressive technical precision.

Now, Ruby’s written a cookbook, One Bake, Two Ways, where every bake has a plant-based option.

In a world that often feels chaotic and confrontational, I’m here for clouds of sugar and the gentle hum of the tent.  

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