‘The Great British Bake Off’ may be a huge homegrown hit, but it seems audiences aren’t so taken with it on the other side of the pond.
The US version of the show has flopped in the ratings, despite having Mary Berry on board as a judge.
The first episode of America’s take on ‘Bake Off’ - entitled ‘The Great American Baking Show’ - pulled in just 4.6million viewers on ABC Thursday (1 November) night (via The Mirror).
The figure represented a quarter of those who tuned into watch ‘Thursday Night Football’, which attracted 16m.
It is the US’ second attempt at adapting ‘Bake Off’ for their audience, as their previous incarnation - ‘The American Baking Competition’, which also featured Paul Hollywood as a judge - was cancelled by CBS after one series in 2013, due to poor ratings.
‘The Great American Baking Show’ was commissioned following a Christmas special last year, called ‘The Great Holiday Baking Show’.
The current US version is hosted by ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ actress Nia Vardalos and her husband Ian Gomez, who also starred in ‘Cougar Town’.
American pastry chef Johnny Luzzini also judges alongside Mary.
While ‘The Great American Baking Show’ features all American contestants, it is actually filmed in the UK, making use of the tent featured in our version.
It was recently suggested Mary would be teaming up with ‘Bake Off’ hosts Mel and Sue and former champion Nadiya Hussain on a new show for the BBC, once ‘Bake Off’ moves to Channel 4 next year.
Paul is the only star in the current line-up who will continue with the show in its new home, as Mary, Mel and Sue all quit out of loyalty to the BBC, after Channel 4 poached the rights to air it in a deal worth £75m.
‘The Great British Bake Off’ concludes on BBC One with two festive specials, airing on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
