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Last week, I wrote about the latest season of the Great British Baking Show on Netflix and how it was filmed during the pandemic. Heather shared that Netflix will soon air an adaption of a Regency romance, Bridgerton - and took the opportunity to offer other romances for television. Tina reviewed Holding by Graham Norton and is looking forward to future books by this novelist.
After watching the new season of The Great British Baking Show, I was primed for the holiday specials. This is the third year that Netflix released one Christmas baking episode and one festive New Year episode.
I guessed, last week, that they stayed on to film the holiday shows after the main season - still using crew that had been quarantined for seven weeks. But I was wrong. The holiday shows were filmed last winter - pre-COVID. There were moments when I felt sorry for the cast. Y'all don't know what's about to hit us!
I enjoyed the return of bakers Briony, Terry, Tom and Yan for the Christmas show. I'm having dreams of the technical for my Christmas morning breakfast!
The real treat, though, was a new thing for the Great British Baking Show - celebrity competitors for the New Year show. Some of the cast of Derry Girls competed for the coveted cake plate.
I haven't watched Derry Girls because comedies aren't hitting quite right for me at the moment. But, Rick really enjoyed it - so there's a recommendation.
I suppose that it would add a layer of fun to have seen these actors before, but I loved it, even without knowing them. Actors have the skills and willingness to ham it up for a laugh. The challenges were a little easier than usual, too. I actually felt like "If they can do it, I can do it" which is a rarity for me when watching this show. The usual cast are the best amateur bakers in Britain - and that's a much higher quality of baker than I am.
Have you seen the holiday shows of the Great British Baking Show? What did you think?
About Joy Weese Moll
a librarian writing about books
