The Great British Bake Off 2021 review – joyous TV that shows no signs of staleness

Presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas are purring and the new contestants are defying gravity. Yes, the tonic that is Bake Off returns for a 12th series

The year may come when the return of The Great British Bake Off (Channel 4) is not a tonic, a comfort, and a joy that’s all the finer for being low-key. This is not that year. Series 12 shows no early signs of staleness.

It helps that the Bake Off’s casting process, dedicated to showing that the kind, self-deprecating charm of the hobbyist cuts across every social boundary with the possible exception of class, feels more pointedly celebratory of diversity than ever.