When does Bake Off start in 2026? Channel 4 has tied that question to a reshaped companion format, replacing Extra Slice with Seconds Helpings before The Great British Bake Off returns next month. Jo Brand and Tom Allen are out; Judi Love and Jon Richardson are in.
The change lands with the main show’s return later this month, and Seconds Helpings will air on the same night immediately after the episode. That makes the companion programme part of the core viewing window, not an add-on for catch-up audiences.
Seconds Helpings after Bake Off
Seconds Helpings will take over the Friday night check-in slot that Extra Slice occupied, but with a new title, new hosts and a new shape. Vivienne Molokwu said, “We have revamped Extra Slice by giving it a brand-new shape and a brand-new home.” She added, “Second Helpings will be available on the same night as Bake Off meaning viewers don’t have to wait long to chew over what’s gone down in the tent.”
That scheduling choice keeps the companion show inside the live conversation around The Great British Bake Off rather than pushing it to a separate slot. For viewers, the practical change is simple: the after-show now sits directly behind the main programme on the same night.
Judi Love and Jon Richardson
Judi Love and Jon Richardson will front the replacement. Richardson said, “Bake Off is an institution,” and added, “Jo Brand is a comedy God.” He also said, “Together with Tom Allen, they have made a spin off show that is warm, witty and unique.”
Love said, “I’ve been lucky enough to be in the tent a few times and work alongside Jon, both were pure joy!” She added, “Joining the show to talk all things baking and celebrate showstopping bakes, including some unique spins sounds like absolute blast.”
Love’s experience inside the tent gives Seconds Helpings a host who already knows the rhythm of the format, while Richardson’s return keeps the comedy side familiar. Channel 4 is not rebuilding the companion show from scratch; it is swapping one presenter pair for another while keeping the Bake Off pipeline intact.
Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood
Kiran Nataraja said, “We’re really excited to have her on the show.” He also said, “Contrary to ‘the Sidebar of Shame,’ her and Paul are not arguing about helicopters the whole time.” That line cuts against the kind of tabloid narrative that can distort a returning series before it starts.
For now, the useful detail for viewers is the order of play: The Great British Bake Off comes back next month, Seconds Helpings follows immediately on the same night, and the long-running Extra Slice format is over. If you want the new companion show, you will not need to wait for a later broadcast window.
The unresolved part is the exact 2026 start date. Channel 4 has pointed to a return next month, but the practical takeaway is already clear: the companion show has been repositioned to ride the main broadcast rather than trail it, and that is the real change in how Bake Off will be watched.
