The Great British Bake Off's latest series has seen its first handshake handed out in Biscuit Week, but the gesture is increasingly criticised as a gimmick that spoils the show. Tom, a 31-year-old creative entrepreneur, received the coveted handshake from judge Paul Hollywood for his biscuit time capsule showstopper, securing his Star Baker spot.
Since its first appearance in series three in 2012, the Hollywood Handshake has evolved from a simple sign of respect into a predictable spoiler. Tom's handshake was the 60th in the show's history, and recipients often go on to win Star Baker that week, undermining the judging process.
In Bread Week, no handshake was given despite bakes being called 'faultless' and 'delicious' by co-judge Prue Leith. This inconsistency highlights how the handshake overshadows Leith's expertise, just as it did with Mary Berry before her.
The handshake peaked in series nine with 12 instances, three in one episode, but has since been reined in. However, its significance remains inflated, leading to calls for its removal to restore fairness and reduce Paul Hollywood's prominence.
