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Shane Jacobson, Anna Gare to host The Great Australian Bake Off.

Shane Jacobson & Junior MasterChef's Anna Gare have been announced as hosts of Nine's new reality cook-off.

Shane Jacobson and Junior MasterChef‘s Anna Gare have been announced as hosts of Nine’s new reality cook-off The Great Australian Bake Off

Joining them as judges are Australian-born correspondent for The Guardian Dan Lepard and Kerry Vincent founder of the Grand National Wedding Cake Competition.

The series will see ten home baking enthusiasts baking cakes, pies, tarts, pastries, bread, biscuits and desserts, in the hope of being named ‘Australia’s Best Home Baker.’

The UK format began on the BBC in 2010, where its series three finale last night averaged 6.5 million viewers. Adapted in Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Ireland, Norway and France, it is destined next for the US at CBS.

Programming Production Executive Courtney Gibson said: “It’s time to get your scone on, folks! The Great Australian Bake Off will bring together the country’s most imaginative and accomplished home bakers to dish up amazing treats for two judges they will really want to impress. Featuring famous Aussie treats as well as epic new bakes, this is a show that will have the whole country shouting, Mum, can I lick the beater?”

Shane Jacobson said: “I love spending time in the kitchen at home but to get a chance to work with professionals around an oven is something that thrills me greatly. I am delighted to be working with Anna Gare. Not only is she a whiz at cooking and baking but her charming, relaxed nature makes her a joy to be around. Not to mention the fact that I intend to steal a few of her baking ideas to try at home, in the name of research of course.”

Anna Gare said: “I’m thrilled to join the search for Australia’s Best Home Baker. To be working alongside Shane and two of the world’s finest baking professionals is a special treat for me. I’m tipping Australians will be spending a lot more time in the kitchen once they feast their eyes on the goodies our contestants serve up.”

The series was originally flagged for 2012 but will premiere in 2013.

Production will commence mid-November at Werribee Park Mansion in Victoria.

9 Responses

  1. This is an amazing show. It’s encouraging, gentle, easy watching, and uplifting TV. I was hoping to see an Australian version soon. The UK version has been a huge success, trends every week on social media, and the ratings (especially considering BBC2 rather than 1) were extremely high.

  2. As you noted David, Season 3 of the original UK version wrapped up over there this week; the final recorded a peak audience of more than 7m on BBC2 which – by a country mile – meant it was the most watched show of the week on that channel, a huge figure in these days of multi-channel options.
    According to British media the growing ratings of ‘…Bake Off’ have prompted suggestion the next season will go out on the ‘main’ channel (BBC1) which is common for shows that keep building an audience (the most notable example in recent years would probably be ‘Masterchef’).

    I think Shane Jacobson could be a good choice, too – for this kind of format to ‘cut through’ and work as mainstream factual entertainment I think you probably need a reasonably well-known ‘personality’ to draw marginal viewers into a new show. He’s got warmth, humour and likeability in spades and that also a big part of new shows working with viewers.

  3. Shane is a great talent in the right vehicle, but hosting a show about fine pastries and cake decorating? Sounds like a decision that a stereotype 9 exec would make.

    I would have pictured more of a clean cut, trendy, charming, possibly gay type to fit this role. Anna is great though, guess we’ll have to wait and see.

  4. I really like the idea of the show. I love cake and always interested in all the decorations etc. I like Anna, not sure about Shane, but will still watch.

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