Fall has come, which means the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting chillier. To subside the seasonal depression, I’ve dived right back into one of my favorite comfort shows, “The Great British Bake Off.” Having watched all of the available seasons on Netflix as well as the successful spin-off, Junior Bake Off, I’ve become fairly familiar with the cast of characters. At this point, as I rewatch the season finale of GBBO 2017, I must question my favorite contestant. Obviously, it’s Liam, but I decided to ask myself a more challenging question. With its gradual pace, calming soundtrack and bakes that remind us of home, GBBO is the epitome of comfort television, so which character best exemplifies the idea of a “comfort character?”
This is when my analyzing brain came into play and I decided to go through the available data so I could confidently make a decision. I set four deciding factors that comprise being a comfort character and created a handy little chart to track my progress. I want to acknowledge that many of these determining factors are dependent on screen time and how well a character has been developed and the fact that I have personal preferences that will skew the data. My research is based on their appearance on the show, their biographies featured on the Great British Bakeoff website and my own imagination.
My four factors are as follows: Likability, Huggability, Comforting Presence and “It” Factor. Likability is measured by how much I would want to hang out with said character which, again, is completely biased and based on my overactive imagination. Huggability is determined by how huggable they appear to be, which considers things like strength, warmth and whether or not I think they would rub my back tenderly. Comforting Presence is the degree to which I would seek them out in a moment of vulnerability to seek comfort and a shoulder to cry on, say, after a breakup or the death of a loved one. “It” Factor is self-explanatory, I’ve based it on who sparkles in the spotlight under the tent!
Because each factor contributes a variable amount to defining a comfort character, I’ve weighted them accordingly. By my calculations, Comforting Presence makes up 40%, Huggability 25%, Likability 25%, and It Factor 10%. To get my final results, I ranked each character from 1-12, worst to best and weighted those results, adding up those total points to get a winner. After a little bit of math and a lot of thought, the results are in: below are the Great British Bake Off 2017 competitors ranked as comfort characters, from bottom to top! (Spoilers ahead!)
Chris, Steven and Julia
Chris kicks us off with a total score of 2 points. According to the information provided in his brief biography and his nautical-themed biscuit board game, Chris enjoys sailing when he isn’t baking. Because my last sailing attempt resulted in a dramatic capsize, I had to give Chris a low score for Likability, as we simply don’t have enough in common. Chris seems like the uncle you greet with a fist bump at the family function, so he scored low on Huggability. However, as a thoughtful and observant baker, Chris scored higher in Comforting Presence, as he seems to be the kind of guy I could confide in after a hard day. Again, Chris’ time in the spotlight was short and while he gets points for his fun patterned shirts, Chris just didn’t have the It Factor, so he scored low in that final category.
Steven follows up with 2.5 points. Steven scored lower in Likability because I don’t know much about him besides how much he loves to bake! Baking consumes his life but, alas, it is not one of the deciding factors in what makes a comfort character. He got a higher score in Huggability because he is rather tall and I think I could tuck my little head under his chin in the most lovely way during an embrace. He scored average for Comforting Presence, due to his soothing voice and grounded energy, both of which are necessary when providing comfort. Steven did well in It Factor because he is entertaining to watch and kills it with creations like his chocolate and ginger sfogliatelle and his focaccia handbag illusion. Plus, all those Star Bakers certainly make him stand out.
Julia comes next with 3.35 points in total. Julia did well in Likability because she has a good sense of humor and had good banter with Prue and Paul. I take banter very seriously. Her score drops in Huggability simply because she is shorter than me and I prefer to be the little spoon in a hugging situation. I did give her a good score for Comforting Presence, as she has very caring eyes and I think she would offer me tissues if I cried in front of her. Her “It” Factor score was lower because her quiet demeanor was overpowered by the more colorful personalities.
Stacey, Peter and Tom
Stacey and Peter are tied with 6.5 points each. Peter scored lower in Likability because I know very little about Peter, as he was one of the first eliminated. What I do know is that when he’s not baking, he enjoys badminton and chess, both of which I am terrible at. I’m a sore loser, so that knocked his score down. He got a strong score in Huggability because, as a father of two, he has a lot of practice and he seems like he would pat my back lovingly. Likewise, Peter got a great score in Comforting Presence, as he looks like he would offer me sage advice and a warm embrace. As for “It” Factor, Peter scored low, simply because he didn’t have much screen time to shine. I’m still dying to try his coconut fruity cake though.
For Stacey, I gave her the most points in Likability, as I kept finding myself rooting for her in the most stressful situations and she’s quite funny. She got major in Huggability because she’s a mother and moms give the best hugs. This also informs her high score in Comforting Presence. Stacey received a high “It” Factor score because whether or not you like hot pink and glitter, the girl has got it.
Tom comes in at 6.7 points total. I gave Tom a whopping high score for Likability for an entirely selfish reason. Tom’s biography includes triathlons, marathons and hiking as some of his hobbies and maybe this is purely aspirational, but I feel like hanging out with Tom would get me more into triathlons, marathons and hiking. Tom got big points in Huggability because I think it would be magical to be wrapped up in those strapping Scottish arms. He got high points in Comforting Presence for his kind eyes and warm smile, and those bread-kneading biceps don’t hurt. Tom’s high score in “It” Factor is due to the fact that the camera just adores him.
Kate, Liam and James
Kate comes out with a 7.55. Kate wholeheartedly deserves her high score in Likability, she’s a blacksmith, she enjoys furniture restoration and she has a knack for creative flavors, what more can I ask for! The low score in Huggability is based on the fact that she is shorter than me and I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for me to be the little spoon. She gets back points for Comforting Presence, for good reason. She’s an independent woman that is here to get it done and I think a strong female presence is one of the most comforting things there is. Kate wraps up with a high score in “It” Factor because, come on, she’s got the banter and the skills to carry her through to the finals. I mean, look at that rainbow meringue!
Liam, oh Liam. Liam’s legacy outlasts his stay this season and Liam fans everywhere have rejoiced in his appointment to his position as judge for Junior Bake Off. The high score in Likability is self-explanatory, it’s hard not to root for him, he’s a man of the people. His score in Huggability is solely based on the fact that he’s a young university guy and although bros don’t tend to hug too much, Liam seems easygoing and affectionate enough for a warm embrace. For this, Liam also gets big points in comforting presence. The high score in “It” Factor cannot be denied, Liam’s got banter, kickass millionaire shortbread and a winning smile, giving him plenty of time to shine onscreen.
James follows up with 8.05 points total. While James didn’t have the most time on camera, I learned in his bio that he has three chickens, which earns him extra points in Likability. The high score in Huggability is won by his height, size, and role as a father. Who doesn’t love a bear hug? Comforting Presence gets him mega points, I feel like he would have kind words to say, maybe even a comforting pat on the back and a nordic teacake and “It” Factor bumps him up.
Sophie, Yan and Flo
Sophie is killing it with 8.75 points total. Her high Likability score comes from the fact that she’s training to be a literal stuntwoman and that is incredibly cool. The big points for Huggability come from the fact that she’s an athlete and pretty tall, I feel like I could tuck into her shoulder and she would give me a reassuring squeeze. Comforting Presence wins big points too, she keeps herself calm under pressure and always stays levelheaded amidst the stress of the tent, which I look for in a leader. “It” Factor gets her big points, she’s got banter and the skills to show off all season long. I would eat her trifle terrine with my bare hands.
Yan is runner-up with 8.95 points to finish. Yan’s creativity and magnificent creations work towards her high score in Likability, along with her banter and sunny demeanor. Her Huggability score comes from those strong bread-kneading arms and the fact that I firmly believe she would rub my back during a hug. Comforting Presence wins Yan mega points, I would give anything to have tea and a slice of her illusion ramen cake with Yan and her wife on a rainy day. The crazy high “It” Factor score is inspired by Yan’s confidence and her presentation, take a look at her jungle-themed peanut butter cake!
And the winner is… Flo!
And finishing us off, in first place, the creme de la creme, Flo! Flo set the bar with her Likability score, her amazing attitude and cheery outlook kept the competition light. Her high score for Huggability is because, duh, she’s a grandmother, and grandmas give the best hugs. Her highest score was Comforting Presence, nobody beats grandma’s when it comes to providing a shoulder to cry on. Finally, “It” Factor, Flo’s smile stands out in a crowd, almost as much as her melon illusion cake.
If you’ve made it this far, you can definitively say that you’re a true GBBO fan. I hope I’ve inspired readers to take this scientific approach to all their future endeavors!
