It’s official: Canada is slated to air its own version of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ on November 1st. The aptly titled ‘The Great Canadian Baking Show’ will premiere on CBC TV, Canada’s public broadcaster.
If you are a fan of the franchise, then you know the drill: the show pits ten amateur bakers from across the country against each other in a week-by-week dessert decathlon. Each episode is themed according to the baked good at the center of that week’s challenge; the first two of the Canadian iteration purportedly spotlight bread and cakes.
Canadian media personality Dan Levy and actress Julia Chan are set to front the series as hosts, while the network tapped award-winning bakers, Bruno Feldeisen and Rochelle Adonis, to judge the weekly competitions. The network assured audiences that the Canadian version will be similar to the British in tone and sentiment, holding steadfast to a format that places baking above bickering.
In an interview with Eater Montreal, Jennifer Dettman, the network’s Executive Director of unscripted content, described the show’s ethos: “I think that behind every cannoli and butter tart bake is a story...so much of the show really is about that family and community from where the bakers live, and it’s connected to their history.”
Funnily enough, Canada is the 23rd country to adopt (and adapt) the iconic British show. Will the Canadian version hold a flame to the original? I guess we'll see next week.
Will you be tuning in? Let us know in the comments.
Written by: Valerio Farris
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