'The only show that brings love and joy': Bake Off fans reveal how the series gets them through 'dark times' in moving confessions

Watching television has become far more than just something to do to fill the time at the end of a long day.

TV shows and films have the ability to transport viewers somewhere completely different, letting them in on unforgettable stories and the lives of characters they'd never usually meet.

Importantly, TV can be comforting. Recently, Bake Off fans have been sharing moving stories about how the show has become their ultimate comfort-watch, and something far more meaningful to them than simply watching enthusiastic bakers in a tent.

The long-running reality series is something that wraps them in a warm hug and makes them feel part of community during dark times.

Thanking viewers for telling their stories, the show's official Instagram account posted a picture overlaid with the words, "We're seeing lots of posts about GBBO getting you through dark times and just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for watching and for sharing, it means a lot to us."

This was followed by slides revealing some of the stories. After reading the post, the comments were flooded with viewers sharing their own tales of Bake Off being the one thing they turn to during time of need - and it's very emotional reading.

One person shared that Bake Off was the only show she could watch when her husband passed away, leaving her with two young children aged two and four.

She wrote, "When my husband died in 2020, I laid in our bed for days and days and left GBBO on repeat. Anyone who came to give their love to my little family (boys aged two and four,) would sit silently in the room with me while lovely people baked charming carb-loaded creations.

"We would stare and try to make sense of anything by watching sugar, butter and flour come together, and it’s never left my family as a gentle place to wonder and remember the goodness in the whole thing."

Somebody else shared, "While my mum was dying in hospice care at home we binge watched it together, and it is some of the best memories. When I want to feel close to her, I put it on."

One lady told the story of Bake Off helping her through a difficult divorce. She said, "GBBO helped me through when my marriage ended. That first Thanksgiving alone was almost impossible to survive, but then I found this crazy baking contest. The contestants were so kind, and encouraged each other.

"I was floored, because American reality shows are cutthroat and just vile. GBBO was an immediate salve to my injured soul. I binged all the prior seasons and still regularly have the old episodes on in the background. Now, it feels like they are all old friends."

For another person, Bake Off was the only way she could give herself important medication. Poignantly, she wrote, "I was going through our egg retrieval process for IVF and the only way I could inject myself with these very large needles multiple times, every day, for 2 weeks was to put on GBBO on my iPad in the bathroom.

"It took my mind off the task and felt like I had friends in the room with me. Thank you for bringing joy all over the world!"

Other commenters didn't have such emotional stories to tell, but still wanted to praise the series simply for being nothing but joyful - something that really is a rarity when it comes to modern TV.

Summing it up perfectly, somebody shared, "Bake Off is an example of how we all could live together when no-one cares about race, sexuality, gender, age, disability. Like a microcosm of acceptance and harmony. So refreshing and k(needed) in these polarised times."

Bake Off airs on Channel 4 every Tuesday on channel 4, and you can also tune in from anywhere in the world.