'The rapport was lovely to watch'

Matt Lucas’s Bake Off debut has been roundly praised by critics.

The Little Britain star co-hosted his first episode of the hit Channel 4 show last night with Noel Fielding, following the departure of Sandi Toksvig.

He kicked off the show by parodying Boris Johnson’s coronavirus briefings, urging the audience to: ‘Stay alert, bake cake, save loaves.’ The sketch was particularly apt as Bake Off’s broadcast had been delayed by 15 minutes to make space for the real thing.

Fans were quick to express their delight at Lucas’s role on the show – and the comic impressed professional critics too.

The Guardian noted that at first ‘he looks genuinely thrilled to be there and a little overwhelmed…. but he settles in quickly. Soon, it is as if he has always been there. It helps that he and Noel Fielding are friends; their rapport is lovely to watch.’

The Daily Telegraph said Lucas was ‘sweetly supportive, which is exactly what the show needs’.

The Independent called him  ‘an excellent choice… adding a pinch of wit and surrealism to the usual mix of weak puns and painful innuendo’ – noting that he ‘out-bants [Fielding] with a bit too much ease.’

The Sun also noted that Lucas ‘effortlessly eclipsed’ his co-host, calling him ‘joyous’.

Published: 23 Sep 2020