Great British Bake Off fans were left ‘terrified’ after the show’s hosts posted about presenter Matt Lucas on social media.
The star announced he would be stepping back from the hit baking show to focus on other projects.
Which is sad, sure, but not quite as sad as how fans interpreted his departure – which was that he had died.
Both Noel Fielding and Paul Hollywood shared emotional farewells to Matt on their Instagram pages, but they were so sincere that several people thought they were obituaries.
Both posts were quickly flooded with comments from panicked people.
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Paul has since deleted his, and Noel has edited his caption for clarity. Matt Lucas is still very much alive, everyone.
Noel’s post included the touching words: “I will really miss your spark and huge smile in the tent and I will miss your kindness as a person and to all the bakers. I will miss your sense of the absurd and your silliness.
“I will miss all the times the four of us giggled together. I will miss your ability to turn into a fully formed character at the drop of a hat. I will miss you pretending to be Boris Johnson singing David Bowie songs and i will miss your upbeat nature and positive vibes. “
One person commented to Noel: “this terrified me i thought he was dead.”
Another said: “NOT ME THINKING HE DIED OMFG MY HEART DROPPED”
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Someone else wrote: “Oh no!! RIP” before noticing that he was alive and well and adding: “oh nvm he’s fine loll.”
“Thank goodness I read Matt’s post before reading this one, so had context!!!” said another person.
One user commented: “these all look like death announcements.”
Another said: “Not me thinking Matt Lucas was dead. Jesus Christ Noel.”
Matt Lucas is leaving the Great British Bakeoff. Credit: Instagram, @paul.hollywood
And someone else wrote: “This photo is a lot less “matt died” energy than P Hollywood’s. Good lord he scared me.”
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On Paul’s post, one person said: “Thank you for deleting the post that made it seem like he was dead.”
Someone else clarified: “He’s not dead everyone he just quit the show!!”
On his departure, Matt wrote: “Farewell Bake Off! It’s been a delicious experience and I can’t imagine a more fun way of spending my summers, but it’s become clear to me that I can’t present both ‘Fantasy Football League’ and ‘Bake Off’ alongside all my other projects.
“So, after three series and 51 episodes, I am cheerfully passing the baguette on to someone else.”
Matt Lucas’s replacement on the Great British Bake Off hasn’t yet been announced.
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He has co-presented alongside Noel Fielding since 2020, when Sandi Toksvig stepped back.
Before then, the competition aired on the BBC and was presented by Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.
Featured image: Channel 4
TV & Showbiz
Iconic Manc movie 24 Hour Party People is set to return to cinemas for its anniversary
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most iconic movies is set to return to the big screen next month.
Remastered in 4K and returning to UK cinemas to mark 24 years since its original release, Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 biographical comedy drama film, 24 Hour Party People, tells the story of Manchester‘s popular music community from 1976 to 1992 – specifically about Factory Records‘ founder Tony Wilson.
The film begins with the punk rock era of the late 1970s, before moving through the 1980s into the rave and DJ culture, and of course, the ‘Madchester‘ scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The narrative largely follows the career of Tony Wilson, played by Middleton-born actor Steve Coogan, while also covering the careers of the major Factory Records artists – especially Joy Division and New Order, as well as A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, and Happy Mondays.
If you haven’t seen 24 Hour Party People before, it’s a dramatisation based on a combination of real events, rumours, and urban legends, as the film is sure to make clear.
Coogan is joined by a cast by a mixture of big names and, at the time, rising stars like Paddy Considine, Shirley Henderson, Lennie James, John Simm, Ralf Little, Andy Serkis, Sean Harris, John Thomson, and even Peter Kay, alongside cameos from other figures connected to the Manchester music scene.
Before it returns to cinemas, the film will first open music and media festival/conference, Beyond The Music, at MediaCity in Salford on 6 October.
The screening at the festival will also be followed by a Q&A with Coogan, Winterbottom, and producer Andrew Eaton.
24 Hour Party People will then be re-released in UK cinemas from 9 October, and you can check your local cinema for screening times and book tickets online now.
Featured Image – Altitude
TV & Showbiz
Bury actress Kate O’Flynn wins big at 2026 Emmys with record-breaking comedy show
Emily Sergeant
Did you know that one of the big winners at the 2026 Emmy Awards last night was actually an actress from Bury?
In case it wasn’t on your radar, American television‘s biggest night, the Emmys, took place yesterday evening over in Los Angeles, and several records were broken in the process – including Apple TV’s comedy horror Widow’s Bay taking home the most Emmys ever for a single series of a comedy show, with 14 of them.
Widow’s Bay tells the story of mayor Tom Loftis, played by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, who is trying to boost tourism on his rugged New England island, but must navigate several strange events that suggest it might be cursed.
Created by Katie Dippold, and executive produced and directed by Hiro Murai, Widow’s Bay was released in late April to widespread critical acclaim.
At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards last night, the show scooped a record 14 awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, several acting wins, and wins for directing and writing too.
One of those acting wins was Kate O’Flynn for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – an actress who hails from the Greater Manchester town of Bury.
Kate stars as Patricia Moyer, mayor Tom’s eccentric assistant in the show.
She grew up in Holcombe Brook near Ramsbottom, and was educated at Bury Grammar School, before she went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Acting in 2006.
Taking to the stage to accept her award last night, Kate said in her speech: “I want to thank our mayor [Matthew Rhys] and all the residents of Widow’s Bay, in front and behind the camera – you’re amazing. This is the role of a lifetime, thank you Katie and Hiro for trusting a Lancashire lass to play a sassy broad like Patricia. And thank you Apple [TV] for saying yes.
“Thank you Nicky and Tony for looking after me, my family back home, my mum and dad, and the loves of my life, my husband and our darling daughter – another sassy broad in the making.
Daisy Jackson -
7th December 2022 
