Logo text
When this was confirmed The Great British Baking Show Destined to get a spin-off in the US – with its hosts, but with beloved judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith still on – it was a testament to the success of the globally popular, laid-back reality series that seems to resonate deeply with audiences.
It also came with some rather interesting questions. Will the series retain its quintessential British character? Will they be able to find hosts as charming and vulgar as the presenters BBC Two (then Channel 4) appointed? More importantly, will the Americans be as talented in the tent as the Brits?
On that last question, Hollywood has an idea. “[Americans] “They’re not better, they’re different,” he says Hollywood Reporter. In celebration of the fourth season of The Great American Baking Show – Now streaming on The Roku Channel – We took a trip to the tent ourselves. At Pinewood Studios in the UK, located just outside London, THR We met Hollywood and Leith while filming in the summer of 2025.
“They use a lot of whipped sponge, they use a lot of bananas, they use a lot of pecans,” he continues. “They use the things we use in the UK, but not to the same extent as Americans do. That’s the big difference. Their taste palette is a bit different from us.”
Leith, who recently announced that she would be stepping down from hosting duties on the hit series, agrees. “I think Americans, in general, like things sweeter than the British, and bigger. Big and sweet. It was interesting today because we asked them to make a cake, which could have been a small cake, and they asked for huge cakes – you know, four-tier jobs.” And it’s not just about the differences in their cooking skills. Leith also noted that Americans bring more energy to the tent. “They clap a lot more than the British,” she says. THR“Americans tend to be a little more American [and] “Laugh out loud.
We’re chatting between shots – and free pastries – on show day, where tensions are high across the stunning park views here at Pinewood. You may be fooled into believing that Bread display The universe is a strange and quiet enterprise. while He is It’s quaint and laid-back, and it’s a huge operation with a huge staff and only 10 bakers out of more than 1,200 applicants. It’s actually something of an empire.
Contestants are likely to get the timing wrong when it comes to stunning performances. “When you train at home, you know where everything is, and you do it late at night, and when the kids are in bed, no one interrupts you,” Leith explains. “When they come here, they are constantly interrupted. They don’t know where everything is like they know their own kitchens, and it’s more difficult.”
However, Hollywood believes that the most challenging task for bakers is their own imagination. “I think they lack creativity, and they don’t spend enough time on the technical side of baking to make them look good, to make them look good,” he says.
Fortunately, The Great American Baking Show He has devilishly distracted hosts on hand to make sure participants juggle as many dishes as possible. Andrew Rannells and Casey Wilson also made time to talk to them THR About what makes the show so beloved by viewers. Rannells, who joined the franchise as a popular racer in Celebrity summer special, in his first appearance as co-host alongside Wilson, who has been at the party since season one. He takes over to cutZach Cherry.
Even away from the tent and this season’s bakers, the duo can’t help but joke around and joke around. Rannells is known as Book of Mormon On Broadway and HBO girlsHe thinks about the reason The Great British Baking Show Its American counterpart remains much loved. “I think there’s something really beautiful about the style of everything, the setting, the pacing of the show. I think in America, we’re so used to competition shows that we feel like they’re just a kick in the gut,” he says. “It’s overwhelming, even if you watch it American Idol. So it’s really nice to watch a show where people are competing, but no one’s screaming.
“It’s very nice, I think,” says Wilson, the star of the film. SNL. “Especially during the pandemic. I think a lot of Americans have really found it, and even if you don’t bake, just put it on. It’s like a warm hug.” “Paul and Prue are very encouraging… but maybe there’s something in my DNA about withholding money,” Rannells adds. [and] He wants positive feedback. Explains most of my dating life.
They soon discovered that they had established a relationship with the judges as well. “the people [think Paul] “He has this personality, but I find him really funny,” Wilson says of Hollywood. Of Leith, Rannells adds: “She’s really funny. They’re both very dry, but Paul gets kind of goofy in a way that I think will surprise people. I mean, not because of anything I did. I made him hug me the other day. I came out strong!”
Wilson admits she was thrilled to learn that her friend and former co-star (they played a couple on the Showtime show) Black Monday) was scheduled to be alongside her for the fourth season of The Great American Baking Show. “It’s a dream,” she smiles. “Everyone loves Andrew. He’s so sweet and fun, and I knew his accent would be perfect for it, because he’s so warm and friendly, but funny.”
Even from the time the movie was made, Rannells says Celebrity summer Special, he knew it would be a lot of fun hosting with Wilson. “We are on the same level of dysfunctional [and] excited. Yes, I thought to myself, “Oh, this is going to happen, and it could get messy very quickly.”
The judges — who have witnessed many host partnerships over the years — are unfazed by the disruption. In fact, they’re all for it. “He’s a real dope,” Hollywood says of Rannells joining the cast. “Because Casey and Andrew know each other outside of work, so that dynamic really comes through in the tent — that there’s a connection.”
Leith chimes in to say that it also doesn’t matter whether the hosts themselves are good bakers (much to Wilson and Rannells’ relief). “They should be loved and like people,” she says. “They have to appreciate the stresses that bakers are under, because they become an outlet for them. They’re almost like a therapist. You have to put an arm around them every now and then and say, ‘No, you can’t leave!’
All episodes The Great American Baking Show: Season 4 It’s streaming on The Roku Channel starting May 11.
