Bake Off: Tom Allen replaces Noel Fielding for Christmas specials

Two episodes will air over the festive season

Noel Fielding will be replaced by Tom Allen during this year’s The Great British Bake Off Christmas special.

The comedian has hosted the cookery competition series since it moved to Channel 4 in 2017, and was joined by Little Britain star Matt Lucas for the latest series.

However, Fielding will not appear on the show’s forthcoming festive specials after his paternity leave coincided with the filming.

Instead, Lucas, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood will be joined by Tom Allen, a stand-up comedian and host of Bake Off: The Professionals and companion show Extra Slice.

Two episodes of Bake Off will air this Christmas, with former contestants James Hillery, Ruby Bhogal, Rosie Brandreth-Poynter and Jamie Finn going head to head in the first to be named Christmas Star Baker. 

The episode will also feature a performance by Alexandra Burke.

In the New Year special, Nancy Birtwhistle, Rahul Mandal, Helena Garcia and Henry Bird will all return to the tent for a second time.

News of the festive specials follow just days after Peter Sawkins was named the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2020, after beating Dave Friday and Laura Adlington to the title.

Aged just 20, university student Sawkins is the show’s youngest ever winner.

Read our review of the final here.