With everything going on in the world, it's not surprising to me at all that a cozy English reality show full of encouragement and baked goods is a hit with millennials — and always leaves you wanting more. Is The Great British Baking Show renewed for Season 5? PBS is airing the fourth batch of episodes now and coming to a conclusion on Friday, Aug. 4, but the show's future is still proving for a bit.
It's actually kind of a weird and complicated situation. There are seven existing seasons BBC One's The Great British Bakeoff, which is broadcast in the United States as The Great British Baking Show because of a copyright issue. However, the name isn't the only difference. Season 5 of the UK series was Season 1 on PBS and Netflix. Subsequently, Season 4 was Season 2, Season 6 was Season 3, and Season 7 was Season 4. I first discovered this while trying to look up the contestants on Wikipedia — something I don't recommend to other fans, because it's very easy to find Star Baker and winner spoilers.
That said, Bakeoff was renewed in the UK for Season 8, to be broadcast on Channel Four, a slightly younger and more hip network, instead of BBC One. The hilarious presenters and blazer enthusiasts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc are not returning. Instead, eccentric comedian Noel Fielding will be there to provide moral support to the bakers along with comedian/activist Sandi Toksvig. Paul Hollywood has a new co-judge as well, restaurateur Prue Leith.
So technically, PBS could broadcast Seasons 1-3 of the The Great British Bakeoff and American audiences would be none the wiser. I can't imagine there's much talk of current events in the tent anyway. They may also broadcast Season 8 next year. I would assume that if PBS does bring Baking Show back for a fifth year, it would be in the summer again.
In the meantime, there are plenty of ways to get your baking fix. Netflix has old seasons marathon-ready. You can watch the 'SNL' sketch, featuring Emily Blunt with an incredible accent, above. You could try out ABC's attempt to bring the show across the pond with The Great American Baking Show OnDemand. There's also Britain's Best Cook, Mary Berry's new show that will rival Bake-Off in the United Kingdom. Even if the days of The Great British Baking Show on PBS are behind us, the spirit of the show isn't going anywhere.
