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
You can now watch Barbie in IMAX for one week only at Manchester Printworks
Emily Sergeant
If you’ve somehow not had the chance to watch Barbie yet, then how does seeing the movie of the summer in IMAX sound?
You may have heard by now that Manchester’s Vue cinema at the Printworks is one of just 30 movie theatres around the world that’s been showing a special 70mm IMAX version of Christopher Nolan’s monumental biographical film Oppenheimer, and that’s about a big of a deal as it gets when it comes to cinematic events, to be fair.
But now, it’s Barbie’s turn for showing on the biggest screen of them all.
There’s absolutely no denying the genuine cultural phenomenon that was the ‘Barbenheimer’ opening weekend showdown back in July, but if it was the nuclear weapon epic you opted for the first time round, and you’ve still not yet found an opportunity to catch Greta Gerwig’s masterpiece, then now’s your chance.
You can now watch Barbie in IMAX for one week only in Manchester / Credit: Warner Bros.
As of today (22 September), Manchester’s largest city centre cinema inside Printworks is screening the Barbie movie in limited-edition IMAX for just one week only.
That’s not all either, as on top of enjoying Barbie in all its ultra-high-definition glory, and seeing Margot Robbie steal the show as she stars in the titular role, alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken, and a massive ensemble cast of some of Hollywood’s biggest names, fans will also be treated to some bonus post-credit footage during their screening too
All the bonus footage has been selected by director Greta Gerwig herself, so that only adds to this rare occasion worth making the most of.
Ian Harris, who is the General Manager at Vue Manchester Printworks, called the release of Barbie a “true cultural moment” that film fans will remember for a long time, and says this one-week special IMAX screening a way to honour that.
One of the IMAX screens at Vue Manchester Printworks / Credit: Vue
“There’s no denying the cultural significance of Greta Gerwig’s film, and we’re thrilled to be offering the chance to watch it in full IMAX,” Mr Harris said.
“The Barbie IMAX experience at Vue Manchester Printworks offers our customers the chance to enter the world of Barbie in a completely unrivalled way, using ear-tingling audio, super-sized screens, and breath-taking imagery.”
Samuel L. Jackson becomes latest Hollywood celeb to declare love for Bolton in new Warburtons ad
Emily Sergeant
Samuel L. Jackson has become the latest Hollywood celebrity to declare his love for Bolton as he stars in the new Warburtons TV advert.
Now, who the heck saw this coming? We’ll bet no one – and you’re likely lying if you claim you did.
The beloved Bolton-born bakery is absolutely no stranger to whipping up viral marketing campaigns featuring unexpected superstars, with acting titans George Clooney, Robert De Niro, and Sylvester Stallone having all fronted the company’s TV ads in the past.
And now, it seems to be Samuel L. Jackson’s turn, by the looks of things, as Warburtons has shared its latest commercial with the world this morning, and the legendary actor appears in the starring role.
The nation’s leading baked goods manufacturer says the new TV advert, which is titled Mad About The Bread, celebrates its “dedication” to making “the best quality loaf” of bread.
The ad opens in the company‘s home town of Bolton, with Samuel L. Jackson seen taking over Jonathan Warburton’s office dressed in the current chairman’s office attire of blue shirt and orange tie, before he turns to camera and delivers the opening line – “Hi, I’m Jonathan Warburton, chairman of the UK’s largest family bakery.”
What follows next can only be described as an unexpectedly-incredible montage of moments showing Samuel L. Jackson – sorry, we mean ‘Jonathan Warburton’ – going on a quest to prove to a doubting bread-lover why Warburtons‘ legendary Toastie loaf is the best there is on UK shop shelves.
Samuel L. Jackson is the star of the new Warburtons TV advert / Credit: Warburtons
‘Jonathan’ can be seen furiously-recalling the effort that goes into making the perfect Toastie loaf, that he emphatically declares is “packed full of the bakery’s unique blend of wheat and 147 years of baking expertise”, and is then shown testing the bread for “softness, butter-ability, and bounce-back-ability”, before he finally knocks the door down of Jonathan’s office, only to be met with the real Jonathan Warburton.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” the actual Warburton comments – and neither could we.
Samuel L. Jackson said it was “a pleasure” to star in the new advert and to meet “the man at the helm of Britain’s biggest family bakery”, adding that it was “an honour” to follow in the footsteps of other famous ‘Bolton alumni’.
“We had a lot of fun on set, so I hope people enjoy the finished product – the ad AND Toastie Loaf,” Samuel L. Jackson concluded.
The legendary actor is the latest in a long line of the company’s unbelieveable collaborations / Credit: Warburtons
Jonathan Warburton said the new ad is “a real celebration” of the company’s passion.
“Inviting the big-screen hero of Samuel L. Jackson into the business was a uniquely memorable experience,” he added of the new advert, “And we hope to bring some light-hearted humour to viewers at home.
Daisy Jackson -
7th December 2022 
