Noel Fielding has said that working alongside Alison Hammond on The Great British Bake Off has made him want to remain on the show "forever." The 53-year-old presenter, part of the Channel 4 line-up since 2017, explained that his current co-host has made the job even more enjoyable.
Chemistry praised on Waitrose Dish podcast
The pair recently appeared on chef Angela Hartnett and presenter Nick Grimshaw's Waitrose Dish podcast, where Angela praised their natural chemistry. In response, Noel said: "Once Alison came on I was like, 'This is the greatest job ever' and I was like, 'I'll stay forever until they kick me out' because we have such fun."
Alison, who also presents This Morning, described Bake Off as "wholesome" and a "lovely" show to work on.
Reflecting on his time on the show
Noel has previously spoken about how unlikely he thought it was that he would still be presenting the programme years after taking over such a beloved format. Speaking to The Guardian, he jokingly credited judge Paul Hollywood for keeping him around.
"Who knew that was going to happen? Maybe Paul Hollywood's hypnotised me. I can't escape the tractor beam of those blue eyes," he shared. "I loved that original lineup, with Mary [Berry], Mel [Giedroyc] and Sue [Perkins], as much as anyone. When me and Sandi took over, we were terrified. We knew it was a massive risk."
"We said, 'Let's see if we can last one series'. The fact that I'm still here is amazing," he added.
Latest shake-up and upcoming challenges
The latest Bake Off shake-up saw Nigella Lawson join the famous tent following Prue Leith's departure. Prue announced in January that she would be stepping back from the show after nine years, telling fans it was time to enjoy her summers.
Opening up about Paul and Nigella's dynamic on the Dish podcast, Noel suggested their differing opinions provide "quite exciting television." "But you know what, they sort of, she, they have slightly different tastes, don't they?," he added. "She likes very salty kind of savoury things. And he likes more sweet. He's got more of a sweet tooth."
"So, they always end up resolving it and coming together. But yeah, it's nice when they do. It's quiet, it's quite sparky when they don't agree."
In the latest episode, the remaining quarter-finalists face three caramel-based challenges, including a classic treacle tart, an imposing millionaire's shortbread and a detailed nougatine sculpture showstopper. The Great British Bake Off airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.
