After religiously following The Great British Baking Show for almost a decade, I suddenly have a new favorite reason to dutifully tune in. And it’s to see whatever shenanigans Noel and Nelly get up to in the tent.
Yup, I’m convinced that the best part of the Netflix hit this year is the diabolically funny chemistry that long-time host Noel Fielding and his #1 superfan, Nelly Ghaffar. The Slovakian baker warned us all the way back in The Great British Baking Show Season 12 premiere that she and Noel would make the “perfect couple,” but I mistakenly took her comment for bluster. Now that we’re halfway through this season of The Great British Baking Show, I can affirm that Noel and Nelly are bringing a constant stream of chaos into the tent and I am loving it!
The Great British Baking Show is at its best when it’s a carefully calibrated melange of classic recipes, sweet camaraderie, and massively fun personalities. This latest season of The Great British Baking Show has been delivering on all three and then some. But when it comes to massive personalities, one new baker takes the proverbial cake. Care worker Nelly Ghaffar has entered the tent like a soundbite sniper, diligently firing off incredible quotes, insanely meme-able reaction shots, and even touching emotional moments. However, Ghaffar is at her best when she’s bantering with Noel Fielding.
Many Great British Baking Show fans adore the goth British comic, but Nelly marked her territory as Fielding’s biggest fan with her first segment on the show. “I love you the most,” she said. “I love your humor. Half the humor I don’t understand.” “Me neither,” Noel giggled. From then on, we’ve watched week by week as Nelly and Noel’s friendship deepened to even more absurd depths. Not only did Nelly completely shake off the fact that Noel ruined her caramel by joking he would drive her home in his posh car, but the woman has literally chased Noel through the tent like some sort of Benny Hill bit.
The Great British Baking Show Season 12 Episode 5 “Pastry Week” was when I realized how much I love watching what I’m calling, the “Noel and Nelly Show.”
This week’s episode opened with Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond inquiring about Nelly’s very distinctive “lewk.” Nelly was dressed up all in pink and wearing a black beret, which she explained came from her son, her “sunshine,” who loves France. After some silly back-and-forth, which included Noel comparing Nelly to someone on the “Guess Who?” board, our Slovakian queen suggested they all holiday together in France. Noel honored the beret later in the challenge, quipping that Nelly was getting more time thanks to her chic chapeau.
It seemed that every time Nelly and Noel interacted this week, they were providing a masterclass in comedic chemistry. It’s not just that Nelly “Yes, ands” Noel’s every silly prompt, but she comes up with bits herself. Together, the two delight in going back and forth, joking about everything from Nelly burning off Noel’s eyebrows with her merengue blowtorch or spying on the famous Brit in the tent. Together, Nelly and Noel naturally make magic.
Hilariously, The Great British Baking Show also revealed that sweet Sumayah Kazi has the opposite chemistry with Fielding. Early in the episode, the teenager admits to Alison that she’s her favorite of the two hosts. Alison jokingly threatens to tell Noel, who later visits Sumayah to confirm he’s in the dog house. Sumayah doesn’t budge and confirms he’s not her favorite, going so far as to tell him to basically shoo because he’s distracting her and getting in her way. Luckily, Noel just finds this endearing, joking that it’s fine because Dylan is his favorite. (But really, it’s obviously Nelly.)
Nelly and Noel’s chemistry isn’t so good that I think Alison Hammond should worry she’ll be out of job, but it is intoxicating enough that I desperately need more of their antics after this season of The Great British Baking Show ends. Nelly brings out the maddest parts of Noel’s comedic genius and Noel’s rabid joy around Nelly reveals her to maybe be one of the funniest bakers in the tent’s history.
Nelly and Noel forever.