Bake Off fans have started petitioning show makers to replace Noel Fielding with Tom Allen full time after stepping in for the Might Boosh star during the 2020 Christmas Special.
Fans of the long running baking competition were surprised to see 47-year-old Noel out of the presenting line-up as he was taking time off to be with his partner, Lliana, and their newborn daughter, Iggy, who was born in August.
With Noel off on paternity leave, the door was open for 37-year-old spin-off star Tom to step up to host the main show.
And his time in the shoes of Noel was a hit with fans – with many demanding he be allowed to host the show full time, and even Tom’s harshest critics being won over by his Christmas performance.
Tom Allen stepped up to host the Bake Off Christmas Special (Image: PA)
One fan set the tone, and echoed the thoughts of many, by tweeting: “Can we get Tom Allan as a permanent host for #bakeoff ? He’s amazing.”
Another gushed: “Can we have @tomallencomedy as a presenter on regular bake off? #gbbo #HAPPYCHRISTMAS.”
One Bake Off fan confessed they didn’t normally enjoy watching Tom on spin-off show An Extra Slice but were loving his performance on the main festive special.
Tom filled in for regular host Noel Fielding (Image: Channel 4)
They tweeted: “I’ll probably get shot down for this but I find tom Allen excruciatingly unfunny on extra slice. He’s not so bad on this edition of bake off though.”
But others said they were keen to see Noel return, with one tweeting: “Loving Tom Allen on bake off. I do miss noel though. #GBBO.”
Show stars Matt Lucas and Paul Hollywood heaped praise on Tom for his work on the show.
Matt branded him the “star presenter” of the episode, while Pau said he had been brilliant while filling in for Noel.
Noel’s second daughter was revealed in October after he and his partner welcomed the child in August.
Lliana revealed news that their family of three had become four while sharing a photo of Halloween decorations she had created.
The radio host uploaded a snap of four spiders made out of pipe cleaners and said they were symbolic of her little family.
She wrote at the time: “Noel is pink, [two-year-old daughter] Dali is orange, I’m grey and Iggy is red.”
Fans were warmed by the revelation, with one gushing online: “Congrats on the birth of your news little babbo!”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
