Given South Africa’s global reputation for vibrant gastronomy, it’s not surprising the BBC has chosen the country for the 18th local version of the hit lifestyle reality show, The Great British Bake Off. The format of the planned 10-part series of The Great South African Bake Off will follow the classical winning British formula, with amateur bakers and other passionate pastry types rising – or flopping as the case may be – to challenging culinary tasks under the watchful eye of the camera. You have to be over 18 to apply, and it helps to know your shortcut pastry from your phyllo.
If you’ve always harboured a secret desire to be a pastry chef, now is your chance to realise a dream. – Marika Sboros The show has already enthralled British viewers on the BBC for five series in which amateur bakers compete against each other, Channel24 reported.
From Soggy Bottoms and Showstoppers, and from Even Bakes to Beautifully Moist and even the dreaded Under Baked, South Africans over 18 will now be able to enter at bbcsouthafrica.com until 24 May for the 10-episode TV bake-off to find the country’s finest home bakers.
“South African bakers will be put through their paces,” Kully Kaur-Bains, the head of programming for Africa at BBC Worldwide, told Channel24 in an interview about The Great South African Bake Off from London last week.
“We’re not going to be lenient on people, we’re trying to keep it as close to the UK format as possible, with some tweaks for the South African audience. So they will be put through their paces. That shouldn’t put anyone off from entering because South Africa has fantastic bakers and great talent,” said Kelly Kaur-Bains.