The Great British Overreaction

Now as I'm sure you get by now I watch a lot of TV... I mean a lot! I studied TV and Radio Production at university so not only do I love TV but the nature in which we as a nation/world use it is of great interest to me.

One of the few shows that has passed me by is 'The Great British Bake-Off'. There's no particular reason for this. I'm aware it's about as popular as One Direction at a teen girl's sleepover. I'm even vaguely aware of Paul Hollywood but I don't know if that's his real name or not. I don't dislike it. It's simply something I've never watched. 

However I get the premise; to put it crudely it's like X-Factor meets the Apprentice meets Greggs. It's a hugely popular show; good for the BBC! However it seems since 'Bake-Off' moved on to BBC 1 that it has adopted some of the controversy usually reserved for shows like the X-Factor.

Now I'm the first to get annoyed when the weekly controversies and sob stories unfold on X-Factor but it's undoubtedly great telly. The tabloids splash Louis Walsh all over the front page, Internet forums go ballistic and the Mary Whitehouse's of the nation phone Ofcom because "something must be done". Although it can be tiresome it is just as much part of the show as the contestants. How does this relate to 'Bake-Off'? Well the show has been under intense scrutiny this week... And why?

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Someone took someone's Baked Alaska out of the freezer.

I'll run that one by you again...

Someone took someone's Baked Alaska out of the freezer!!

Someone stop the presses!! Was anyone hurt? More importantly was the Baked Alaska hurt? Oh the humanity!! 

Please remember I don't have an issue with the show. I don't have an issue with the fact that they have capitalised on a 'controversy' the way they have. Admittedly it's amusing that people have contacted Ofcom because someone may or may not have sabotaged someone's pudding. I guess the big question is how is this media frenzy any different than what happens on X-Factor every year? 

Maybe the fact that it was covered on Newsnight????

Yes you've read that correctly. The baker of the terminal dessert was interviewed on the BBC's premier political TV show. Let's not worry about what's happening in the Middle East or what's going on with the NHS. I'd much rather hear about someone exiting a reality show because their Baked Alaska wasn't quite right!

You may think I'm overreacting... I think that the pot may be calling the kettle black. There's no escaping the media frenzy surrounding these shows; it's all part of the drama. The tabloids will always generate buzz to sell papers. That being said next time your favourite singer goes out on X-Factor or a baker's dough doesn't rise on 'Bake-off' please consider the following...

1. Is this *really* worth phoning Ofcom over... I mean really??

2. Is this going to affect your life in even the slightest measure?

3. Is this worthy enough to make its way on to Newsnight?

If not calm down, have a nice bath and watch something a bit less controversial... I hear Doctor Who hasn't had any Ofcom complaints lately ;-)