ABC is premiering the The Great Holiday Baking Show series at 10 PM on November 30 as part of its holiday-themed programmming lineup.
Based on the hit UK series The Great British Bake Off and hosted by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and husband Ian Gomez (Cougar Town), the four-episode The Great Holiday Baking Show stars some of the nation’s best amateur bakers as they compete in a series of themed challenges and eliminations all hoping to be crowned Holiday Baking Champion. For four weeks, James Beard Award-Winning pastry chef and author, Johnny Iuzzini, joins England’s “Royal Queen of Baking,” author and television personality Mary Berry, as they judge the decadent and delicious holiday fare these bakers create as they throw down their best culinary skills.
BBC’s Great British Bake Off Season 6 finale earlier this month became the most-watched TV program of the year, with an average audience of 13.4 million people and a peak audience of 14.5 million. The series has spawned several successful specials and remakes in the UK. CBS tried a remake of the hit series in 2013 in the U.S. with The American Baking Competition, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. It premiered to dismal ratings and was canceled after the first 7-episode season.
The Great Holiday Baking Show is produced by Love Productions for the ABC Television Network.
A few other highlights of ABC’s holiday-themed programming include Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, the 1970 favorite narrated by Fred Astaire premiering at 8 PM November 27; It’s Your 50th Christmas Charlie Brown, hosted by Kristen Bell, which celebrates 50 years of the iconic classic, airing at 9 PM November 30; Toy Story That Time Forget, a Pixar animated TV special featuring characters from the Toy Story films airing at 8 PM December 3, followed by the CMA Country Christmas special, hosted for the sixth year by Jennifer Nettles and featuring country music’s biggest stars, at 9 PM.
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