The star-studded lineup for the new Stand Up To Cancer celebrity edition of the Great British Bake Off has been announced.
And it’s a wild ride.
Bolton-born comedic actor and presenter Paddy McGuinness, radio and TV presenter AJ Odudu, Radio 1’s Adele Roberts, and actor David Morrissey are some of the North West names joining famous faces like Olympic diver Tom Daley, reality star Gemma Collins, former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson, Loose Women star Colleen Nolan, and Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden on the upcoming The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off.
But while comics, reality stars, TV presenters, and British actors of varying fame levels are all who you’d expect to see a lineup like this, one famous face has really thrown people off – David Schwimmer.
Yes, that’s right. Whether you can believe it or not, the star of the most famous sitcom of all time, and everyone’s favourite wrongly-accused Blackpool corner shop cans thief, David Schwimmer, has laced up his apron and headed into the Bake Off tent.
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Say hello to our baking friends. Meet the stars hitting the Bake Off Tent to raise some dough for a very special cause!
What’s even more surprising is that the US actor, who is of course best-known for playing Ross Geller in Friends, was already supposed to have appeared in celebrity special of the hit Channel 4 baking reality TV show a few years back, but he had to pull out right of filming right at the last minute.
It comes after Schwimmer said in an interview that he’s a huge Bake Off fan.
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He told Radio Times back in 2020: “It’s competitive, but everyone’s so lovely with each other. It’s so not American!”
Finding out the now 56-year-old actor was a fan was what lead judge Paul Hollywood to naming Schwimmer as the celebrity he’d most like to see take part in the show after he had to back out of competing at the 11th hour.
David Schwimmer is on The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off 2023 lineup / Credit: Channel 4 & Love Productions
After the lineup was unveiled yesterday, fans have been taking to social media to share their shock at Schwimmer’s unexpected inclusion.
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“You managed to get actual David Schwimmer? Ridiculous!!!” one fan wrote on Twitter.
Other people were more literal in their shocked reactions, with another fan simply tweeting: “DAVID SCHWIMMER!!!!!” and a third person commenting: “… and David Schwimmer!! Wait! What???”
Plenty of Friends jokes and references were also made, of course.
The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off sees celebrity bakers enter Britain’s most famous tent and put their baking skills to the test as they tackle signature, technical, and showstopper challenges in a bid to be named Star Baker, while raising awareness and funds for cancer research and inspiring viewers to do the same.
The new series is set to air on Channel 4 later this year.
Featured Image – Channel 4
TV & Showbiz
Mancs willing to give rescue dogs a forever home needed for new Channel 4 series
Emily Sergeant
Could you give a rescue dog a second chance in life? Now’s your opportunity.
In just the past couple of weeks alone, TV casting directors have been looking for open-minded single Mancs to take part in the next series of Love Is Blind UK, and Mancs keen to test their music knowledge with the chance to win a whopping £10,000 cash prize… but now, it’s time for dog-lovers to step forward.
The next series of hit Channel 4 show The Dog House is currently in the works, and producers are on the lookout for people willing to give rescue dogs a forever home.
Channel 4 is looking for Mancs willing to give rescue dogs a forever home / Credit: Channel 4
Since first hitting our screens back in 2019, the award-winning series – which is currently in partnership with Woodgreen Pets Charity – has captured the hearts of viewers across the UK, sharing emotional stories of rescue dogs and the people hoping to give them a forever home.
Viewers get to watch incredible journeys of rescue dogs finding their perfect match.
But the show demonstrates that it’s not just the dogs who are being rescued, however, as many of their new owners also find their lives transformed in the process.
Casting for the next series of smash-hit TV series The Dog House is currently underway / Credit
“Once again, we’ll be following the expert team of dog-matchers, meeting this year’s rescue dogs, and of course, getting to the know the amazing people who are looking to offer them a lifelong home,” a casting call for the next series of The Dog House reads.
“We’d love to reach dog lovers in Manchester who may be considering welcoming a rescue dog into their lives.”
Does this sound like you? Channel 4 is keen to hear the reasons why you may be looking for a new canine companion, so anyone who fancies applying for the show is asked to fill out an application form online.
Stephen Graham sheds light on the ‘possibility’ of a second season of Adolescence
Danny Jones
Pretty much everyone has been getting through the incredible yet harrowing experience of watching Adolescence on Netflix this month, and though it may have seemed unlikely at first, series star Stephen Graham recently discussed the possibility of a second season.
For those who aren’t aware, it was never expected that the four-part limited series surrounding a young boy accused of a violent crime would be the global phenomenon it has been, nor was it hoping to secure a deal for another season: the whole point of the show was to tell a powerful but self-contained story.
However, with it becoming the most-watched thing on the platform in just four days – not to mention notching all manner of streaming records – it’s no surprise that the suggestion of capitalising on its smash hit success has come up.
Many feel the kind of narrative it tells is so important that the idea should at least be explored.
“You throw the stone into a pond and this ripple effect has been huge… But we never meant it to have this impact, we just wanted to tell a truthful and honest story.” Co-writer and actor Stephen Graham reflects on his powerful new Netflix series Adolescence, which explores… pic.twitter.com/aO3JKNYH16
Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, co-creator and lead Graham sat down with his wife Hannah Walters, who also helped write and produce the show, to discuss the reaction
When asked quite simply if any discussions have been had about an Adolescence season two, while it sounds like there’s nothing official yet, he didn’t dismiss the concept outright.
“Possibly, let’s see how the figures are, but yeah, there’s the possibility of developing another story”, says the 51-year-old from Kirkby.
It might not be much to go as yet; however, just knowing that there’s room to tell another chapter is good enough – especially given the “smirk” the 51-year-old is said to have responded with during his answer.
Many fans thought the chances of a second series had been dashed early doors after fellow co-creator Jack Thorne recently went on This Morning and dismissed the potential pretty much altogether.
In his words: “I don’t think we’re the right people to tell Katie’s story […] I think there are other makers out there that could tell beautiful dramas about Katie or girls like Katie [the victim in the show], and that those shows should be made.”
That being said, just because he doesn’t sound like he’d be involved will an Adolescence sequel, it doesn’t mean Graham might not be.
The impact of the show, especially here in the UK, cannot be overstated and not just because of the cross-generational viewing figures.
Fellow Adolescence actor Jo Hartley, who was born down the road in Oldham, joined countless celebrities in waxing lyrical over the importance of the show following what she called an “overwhelming” reaction in just the first few days.
In fact, the shockwaves it sent across Britain and beyond have been so strong that the writers have even been invited to Parliament to discuss the series’ themes and how to help tackle them better.
Emily Sergeant -
8th February 2023 
