Alison Hammond reveals her 'weird' Great British Bake Off audition before securing role as Matt Lucas' replacement
New Great British Bake Off co-host Alison Hammond has revealed that not a single slice of cake was involved in her audition for the role.
It was confirmed last week that the This Morning presenter, 48, would be replacing Little Britain's Matt Lucas, 49, on the beloved Channel 4 programme, joining forces with comedian Noel Fielding, 49.
To see whether she was good enough for the job, Alison was asked by producers to chat with strangers at a garden centre, with no sweet treats in sight.
Shedding light on her audition, she shared: 'They made me interview random strangers, to obviously see if I'm good with different people. It was a weird audition.'
After securing the role, Alison was told to keep the exciting news to herself for three weeks, but she couldn't help but let her son Aiden, 18, in on the secret.
!['Weird audition': New Great British Bake Off co-host Alison Hammond had to interview random people at a garden centre before bagging a role on the Channel 4 programme](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/23/22/69052557-11896747-image-a-49_1679611039999.jpg)
'Weird audition': New Great British Bake Off co-host Alison Hammond had to interview random people at a garden centre before bagging a role on the Channel 4 programme
Poking fun at her inability to keep schtum, she added to The Sun: 'Can you believe I couldn't tell anybody?'
Last week, Alison confirmed her exciting new position on Great British Bake Off in a video of a cake which was shaped like the show's iconic white tent and featured a model of her, Noel and judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith.
In a voiceover, the presenter said: 'This is breaking news, Alison Hammond is joining the team of The Great British Bake Off.'
Alongside the post, she wrote: 'It's Official!! It's happening The Great British Bake off! let's have it – The cake that is so excited @BritishBakeOff @Channel4 @PrueLeith @PaulHollywood @noelfielding11 #GBBO'
Existing co-host Noel was more than thrilled to welcome Alison to the Great British Bake Off family.
The Mighty Boosh star shared a photo of his new co-host on his Instagram, writing: 'It gives me so much pleasure to welcome @alisonhammond55 into the tent.
'I'm absolutely pumped we are working together. We are gonna spend the whole time giggling like naughty school kids.
'The bakers are gonna love you to bits. x x x @paul.hollywood @prueleith @britishbakeoff x'
![New job alert! Alison will be joining the beloved baking show later this year alongside Noel Fielding](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/23/22/69052855-11896747-image-a-50_1679611459998.jpg)
New job alert! Alison will be joining the beloved baking show later this year alongside Noel Fielding
![Replacement secured: Matt Lucas quit Great British Bake Off in December with Alison taking over his role](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/23/22/69052751-11896747-image-a-51_1679611468638.jpg)
Replacement secured: Matt Lucas quit Great British Bake Off in December with Alison taking over his role
![Delighted: Current co-host Noel Fielding welcomed Alison to the show with open arms](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/23/22/69052793-11896747-image-a-52_1679611472779.jpg)
Delighted: Current co-host Noel Fielding welcomed Alison to the show with open arms
Meanwhile, departing host Matt told Alison she was 'born' for the role. In a tweet, he said: 'Dear Alison, many congratulations!
'You were born to do it. You will be brilliant! Xx'
Alison will be taking over from comedian Matt on the show, who is currently hosting the show's celebrity Stand Up To Cancer edition before he bows out.
Matt announced in December that he had quit Great British Bake off because he could no longer juggle the programme's schedule alongside other projects.
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