The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 2016: Maddy Hill, Samantha Cameron, David James, and Jason Manford enter the tent for a good cause

A fresh batch of celebrities stand at the gingham altar in the name of charity
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Ben Travis27 January 2016

We can all heave a huge sigh of relief: The Great British Bake Off is back.

Well, sort of – thanks to the impending return of Sport Relief, we have four episodes of The Great Sport Relief Bake Off to look forward to.

What exactly does baking have to do with sport? It’s not clear, but it’s hard to care when it means Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood are back for another round of soggy bottoms and big buns.

With the Bake Off continuing to be one of the nation’s favourite shows (the final episode of the last series was the UK’s most viewed TV moment of 2015), it can now attract an impressive line-up for its celebrity specials – after all, who wouldn’t want to stand before the gingham altar

That means this tie we have Samantha Cameron – yes, the wife of the Prime Minister – rubbing shoulders with former England goalie David James, comedian Jason Manford, and EastEnders’ Maddy Hill.

In the first episode, the celebs are tasked with whipping up 24 canapes in the signature bake, a Paris Brest pastry in the technical challenge, and a 3D cake shaped like a trophy (ah, there’s the sporting theme) in the showstopper round.

Despite a disappointing lack of Sue Perkins – don’t worry, Mel Giedroyc is still here – it’s wonderful to have the Bake Off back on our screens, even if just for four weeks.

BBC One, 8.30pm

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