The Great Bake Off Scores 40th Territory License

BBC Studios Distribution has licensed The Great Bake Off into Algeria, marking the 40th territory for the format.

Produced by NoFilter for the satellite channel Echourouk TV, the local treatment will go to air on January 28. The Algerian series will be presented by Mehdi Yadess and judged by chef Mehdi Hadj Mebarek and La Louza.

Producer Fouede Zabaiou also brought in expertise and talents from BBC Studios France. Mercotte, from the French version of the series Le Meilleur Patissier, will be a guest judge for the first episode.

André Renaud, senior VP for global format sales at BBC Studios Distribution, said, “The Great Bake Off has always been built on warmth and friendly competition from the first season that Love Productions made in the U.K. It’s a pleasure to know that this milestone 40th version will also be the second version in North Africa, and I am excited to see another set of bakers make their way into the iconic tent to share their baking journeys with audiences in Algeria very soon.”

Fouede Zabaiou, CEO at NoFilter, said, “Cooking and especially pastry cooking has an important place in Algeria. Adapting the format for this territory was a natural choice. Nothing was left to chance. From the challenges of chef Mehdi Hadj Mebarek to the technical tests of La Louza, the Algerian culture has been put forward for the pleasure of our bakers who will have the chance to discover the iconic tent installed in the fabulous Jardin d’Essai. We are proud to be the 40th adaptation of this great format and believe that the Algerian version will be a great addition to the legacy of this show. We wish us the same success as the other territories”

Rupert Frisby, director of legal and commercial affairs at Love Productions, said, “We are delighted and proud that our beloved Great Bake Off format has now reached its 40th territory.”

From Love Productions, The Great Bake Off seeks to find the nation’s best amateur baker. Since The Great Bake Off format was first adapted locally in 2012 for Belgium, the format has seen 165 series recorded worldwide and over 1,900 episodes spanning countries such as Argentina, Australia, Germany, Japan, Kenya and Thailand.