For many across the UK, the idea of watching a baking competition after a hefty Christmas dinner might seem unappealing. Yet for devotees of the iconic Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, a surprise reunion on The Great British Bake Off Christmas Special 2025 has been hailed as a festive miracle, with some claiming it "saved Christmas".
A Festive Reunion in the Bake Off Tent
Marking their first official gathering since the comedy series ended a decade ago, five beloved stars entered the famous baking tent. David Mitchell, Isy Suttie, Matt King, Sophie Winkleman, and Olivia Colman – known to fans as Mark, Dobby, Super Hans, Big Suze, and Sophie – took on the challenge of impressing judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood. Hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond oversaw the proceedings as the quintet battled it out with festive bakes.
The special episode culminated in a win for Olivia Colman, a moment that sent viewers into raptures. One social media user, @V_M_B__, declared: "Olivia Coleman on celebrity bake off might have saved Christmas tv." Another, @AnthonyShannon2, described the show as "a much needed comforting hug in TV form," dubbing it "The Great Peep Show Christmas Bake Off".
Fan Elation and One Notable Absence
The response online was overwhelmingly positive, with fans revelling in the nostalgic gathering. @JR_Dickenson stated they were "just living for the Peep Show Bake Off special and it certainly didn't disappoint". Particular praise was lavished on Olivia Colman's bake, with @DobbyClub06 calling her recreation of the show's infamous "homeless ball pit" "absolutely ICONIC".
However, the joy was tinged with disappointment for some viewers, who noted the absence of two key Peep Show characters. Many took to social media to question why Robert Webb (Jeremy) and Paterson Joseph (Alan Johnson) did not feature. @RRcpfc posted: "I'm a big fan of Peep show bake off but no Johnson or Jez?????" Fans were partially appeased when Robert Webb made a brief cameo via video link towards the episode's end to wish everyone a merry Christmas.
Not Their First Baking Rodeo
This was not the first time a Peep Show alumnus has faced the scrutiny of the Bake Off judges. David Mitchell previously appeared in a Comic Relief special in 2015, an experience he later admitted he found highly stressful. Speaking to the Radio Times at the time, Mitchell said, "I was quite stressed about it in advance... I was better at living in denial that I had agreed to do it at all."
The 2025 Christmas special has successfully blended two British television institutions, providing a dose of warm nostalgia and comedic familiarity during the festive season. For countless fans, seeing the cast back together, albeit in the high-pressure environment of the Bake Off tent, was the perfect Christmas television gift.
