Comedian Tom Allen has thrown his support behind Alison Hammond after she was announced as the new host of the Great British Bake-Off, insisting it’s a “match made in heaven”.
The This Morning presenter, 48, will join forces with comedian Noel Fielding fronting the next series of the popular Channel 4 baking show.
Hammond replaces comedian Matt Lucas who revealed in December he was stepping down from the presenting role as he could no longer commit to the programme’s schedule alongside his other projects.
Allen is no stranger to GBBO having previously presented the series’ professional offering, Bake off: The Professionals, with Liam Charles until last year - and also appeared as a contestant on The Great Celebrity Bake-Off: Stand Up To Cancer in 2021.
Commenting on Hammond joining the GBBO family, he told The Standard at the Royal Television Society Awards: “It’s a wonderful place.
“The tent is a really happy place and Alison Hammond is a fabulously happy person and is wonderful, warm and a brilliant presenter.
“So it’s a match made in heaven really and I think she’s going to be absolutely fantastic, perfect in fact.”
Aside from soggy bottom chat, Allen was the host with the most on Tuesday night, delivering his signature wit as he presented the star-studded RTS Awards.
However you won’t find the 39-year-old poking fun at anyone for a quick laugh, in fact he said he doesn’t fear what he says during his sets as his comedy is about “laughing together not at someone”.
Reflecting on how comedy has become more considerate nowadays, he shared: “I don’t think there’s anything new about people being caring, considerate and mindful of other people and their feelings.
“I don’t think it’s a new thing but it’s portrayed as such. There’s always expectations that people would be respectful of one another. I think that’s what were seeing.
“I welcomed the fact that people can’t be horrible to each other. That’s a good thing.
“I think it’s about respecting one another. Comedy should be about laughing together not laughing at someone.
“That’s always been my rule and for most comedians, I think that’s how they are too.”
