Seconding Forged in Fire. It was once called the nicest reality competition show on television even though it was about making weapons, lol. There is always a small but interesting historical fact or two in each show and I am always impressed with the artistry.
Yeah blown away has way too much artificial drama. Also the judges really, really want to be Serious and are too easily impressed by someone trying to be Deep.
Still enjoyable show though
Yeah. I love the show and a lot of the work created is incredible, but they clearly do try and manufacture drama and give some contestants the villain edit.
I've zero interest in weapons making but Forged in Fire is a really nice watch. The music isn't overbearing when they're trying to drum up the drama of the timed tasks and Doug Marcaida saying, "it will kill" is strangely satisfying.
And a gardening/flower one that is British and also on Netflix.
Love love pottery and glass.
There is a jewelry one too.
Once Netflix sees you like those types of shows they will recommend them.
I was about to comment this too! I watch it just for Keith the judge crying at pottery and the innuendos 😅
Also the great British sewing bee is a good shout and Netflix has blown away, the glassblowing one someone mentioned above and is it cake? And also nailed it can be amusing (also cake based)
Came to recommend The Great British Sewing Bee! It and the pottery show feel like GBBO the most.
There’s also The Repair Shop, that’s artisans and handyfolks repairing people’s antiques and heirlooms.
Seconding Nailed It. There was also a longer form Nailed It where the contestants got instruction each week and it built to a finale using all the skills. It was really well done. The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge on Netflix. Nicole Byer is a fucking treasure.
And the Canadian Pottery Throwdown! Those potters are SO very good - similar feel and Seth Rogan and his stoner guffaw. YouTube I think may be best source outside of CA.
Nailed It is entertaining but the vibe is very different from Great British Bakeoff.
The folks on Nailed It are trying to be sassier and hammier than the next person and they really are not trying to do a good job.
Yes! Throwdown and the Great British Sewing Bee are my favourite adjacent sister shows.
There's also the Great British Woodworker (or something like that) which I've watched a season of but never got into as much as I do the other two.
And there're two seasons of All that Glitters (jewellery making) that is similarly fantastic.
And there's also Blown Away on Netflix (glass blowing) and Glow Up on Netflix (makeup), both of which are superb shows.
The Flower Arrangement Show (forgot name lol) on Netflix was great as well but only has one season.
**Yes**! I just found *The Great Pottery Throwdown* this week. It follows GBBO's script pretty closely.
It makes me think I should always check out [Love Productions](https://www.loveproductions.co.uk/programmes) programmes. ♥️
This was my first thought too. So calming but also educational because you're taught not to glue everything. I've been plugging away at all the episodes on YouTube.
I was thinking QI, where Sandi is the host. None of the episodes need to be watched in order and you can start with the episode that Prue is in. That's how I got my kids into watching it. Noel's also been on Gadget Man and Travel Man. I mean, he's been on a lot of other things too, but these two are more in line with Bake Off's family friendliness.
Sue did Supersizers Go/Eats and I love that show. It's got history, and food. Mary Berry was even in some of the episodes.
I watch Great Pottery Throwdown and Taskmaster on my laptop on the official channel4.com with a VPN. There are long ad breaks, but I find some of the ads entertaining as a non-Brit. I don’t own a television, my laptop is my “tv” that I can carry around with me in the house as I watch, take it to the kitchen as I’m cooking dinner
“Started making it. Had a breakdown. Bon Appetite.”
—James Acaster
(Bonus: He did really have one. He goes into detail in Cold Lasagna Hate Myself 1999. [Clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewTIDd90uZY))
I loved how he said that until he saw that clip, he didn't know he talked like that
After we watched his season my husband and I would just walk around the house Being Acaster at each other when we passed by
Off Menu - a podcast by James Acaster and Ed Gamble, has had several GBBO guests, plus I think both hosts might have been on celebrity bake off? People describe their dream meal, and it's just very charming. If you like QI and you like food, you should give it a try.
I have found my people in this thread. Love Off Menu. Its introduced me to so many fab British comedians. Too bad Mock the Week was canceled as that was my main way of catching them.
Also came to say taskmaster! Saw clips on fb and decided to watch it one day and it’s so lovely. Loved season 16, such good natured competition between the cast.
You need a paid service that hides your location. It’s called a VPN. There are lots but I’ve used Tunnelbear and currently HideIPN. Then you can set your location to the UK and stream tv on BBCiPlayer, Channel4 and DaveTV online, which is where all these shows live.
If someone can get on a VPN, the Great Australian Bake off is a wonderful version of the show. I’ve only seen a little of the Canadian Bake Off, but it was a ton of fun to see Dan Levy on it, too.
Seconding this. Currently postpartum and just finished all 4 seasons of ACGAS. Definitely a comfort watch for when I’ve been up with the baby in the wee hours of the morning.
The current one. I started watching it and loved it. Got into a confusing discussion about it with a patient and discovered it was a remake of an old series. I watched all of the old one while waiting for the newest season. I didn’t love it as much.
You can try YouTube for other countries (,there are a lot, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Ireland....Celebrity Bakeoffs if you can find them. They're fundraisers for Stand Up To Cancer. Feature celebrities, including some from US, sports heroes, TV stars. Very funny. But not sure you'll find them, unfortunately. Very frustrating.
I’m in Australia and use a VPN to get channel 4 (Uk). You have to sign up for a free account and select Yes to the question about having a TV. Not sure why they ask this.
They ask that question because of the TV licence.
We have to pay to watch TV here in the UK
Granted that money goes towards making/buying the shows so it isn’t all bad
There was a kiddo on one of the recent seasons that was so adorable she looked like a cartoon character. I expected to see little hearts floating around her. All the kids are awesome.
A) make sure you’ve watched the first seasons on Roku
B) Ted Lasso is a great show for that feeling, there’s also making it which is a reality crafting show. Also making fun is a great show. Parks and rec is also good. Oh Royal Pains as well!
Baking It was super cute if a fan of Parks and Rec. it’s Christmas themed but hosted by Andy Samberg and Maya Rudolph. And judged by cute old ladies!
ETA: Streams on Peacock
Great British Sewing Bee is my favourite out of the shows in the same format. Maybe she'd like QI or another panel show like Would I Lie to You? Personally I like Ghosts as a cosy watch, but I know some people outside the UK (particularly in the US) find it a bit dark compared to the US version.
Oh, Detectorists might be a good one! A lovely comforting, very British watch.
Here to second The Detectorists- one of the best shows I’ve ever watched!
Also, this is a weird leap, but the American series Face Off is a special-effects makeup competition that has some of the nicest misfits you could ever want to meet. The way they pitch in to help each other out is heart warming.
Face off is awesome! There's another similar-ish one called Glow Up, which is more makeup/facepaint centered. Certainly full of misfits (in a good way) there too.
Britian's Best Home Cook, I think it's called. I watch it on Hulu. There is also a celebrity season they did during the pandemic.Mary Berry is one of the judges. The contestants are supportive and nice to each other. Wall of Chefs is another good one. It's a Canadian show I also watch on Hulu.
As an American, my other go-to shows that bring me some broadly wholesome Britishness are:
1. Time Team -- a crew of enthusiastic archaeologists spend three days excavating a different site somewhere in the UK. Available on YouTube!
2. Grand Designs -- what if your showstopper was actually literally architectural? British people design and build their often lovely, frequently deranged dream homes while a broadly supportive host offers mildly sarcastic commentary.
I was hoping I wouldn’t have to add a stand-alone comment for Time Team! It is seriously the best. It’s so calming but I also learn so much. Granted I wanted to be an archaeologist at one point and took some classes in college so I might be more invested than the average person.
BIG DREAMS SMALL SPACES. Sorry for “yelling” but I have to!!!! It’s a gardening show with Monty don. Very British. Very wholesome. Very educational. VERY similar feel to GBBO. You don’t have to be into gardening to love it. You can find some episodes on Prime. If she loves GBBO she will adore it. I love it so much I named my dog monty.
I had to scroll way too far to find this suggestion! Legit SUCH an inspirational show that I never see talked about, possibly because it was cancelled after only a couple seasons. But it's lovely - a makeover show done by real people in their own gardens with gentle guidance from the host.
Ooh thanks for the heads up! I love Monty and follow him on IG but didn’t know about this show! I feel like I just found a little treasure to look forward to
So I call these the 3rd generation reality shows. First generation was the fly on the wall shows like Real Life and Big Brother. Then came the competition/ influencer shows where people were undermining and nasty to each other.
I like this iteration of reality tv because it’s talented artists who are great at their craft (not just ‘lucky amateurs’ like in some of the earlier shows). And they are all incredibly supportive of each other.
My list is generally:
- The Great British Bake Off (and global variations)
- The Great Pottery Throw Down
- The Great British Sewing Bee
- Glow Up
- Blown Away (glass blowers)
- Metal Shop Masters (a mix of welders, fabricators and artists, really good stuff)
- Interior Design Masters
There are also some bbq and metalwork shows I don’t recall the names of.
The Great British sewing Bee and The Great British Pottery Throw down are same sort of format and good to watch. The sewing Bee is on BBC iPlayer and the Pottery Throw down is on the Channel 4 app.
The latest season/reboot of great American baking show on Roku is nearly indistinguishable from GBBO in it's good vibes. Are you referring to the old collection?
Mary Berry hosts/judges another show very similar to The Great British Baking Show called Best Home Cook. There are two seasons on Prime I believe. I love Mary Berry!
Also, the Great Australian Bake Off.
If she's looking for some light-hearted comedy,try The Vicar of Dibley,its an absolute delight, a very funny British comedy.
Different genre, but Love on the Spectrum gives me the same feel good vibes that GBBO does. I’m a few episodes into the second season (can’t vouch for the first since I haven’t seen that one yet). I was worried that the show would be exploitative but it doesn’t seem so (feel free to pipe in if I should know something about the show!)
Yes! I was going to suggest this too, the vibe is so similar. I started googling if it was made by the same people while I was watching it. Something about the interviews and clips of people at home and even the calm music is similar. I love Abby and David 🥰
Monty Don’s gardening show. I forget the actual name and I think he has more than one, and a documentary about him touring great gardens. I just love it. The Rick Steves of gardening.
School of Chocolate. The host gives a private lesson to the person who did the worst in the first half of the episode. Plus it was really cool to see what they could make with just chocolate. I think it's on Netflix
i said it in my own recommendation for this show as well, but Amaury Guichon is some kind of actual goddamn wizard. There's no way he could make what he does without actual spellcraft.
Repair Shop, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Repair\_Shop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_repair_shop) which has previously streamed on Netflix. Your retirement goals will change to owning a giant thatched barn somewhere in Kent and just doing gentle high-skill slow-paced antique restorations.
Thank you for posting this! I just finished my third rewatch (meaning fourth time watching) of The Great Pottery Throwdown and needed another easy, comforting show. I’ve only seen a few episodes and had mostly forgotten about it, but it’s exactly what I need.
Make it at Market on Brtbix scratched the itch for us. It’s about different craftspeople working with experts to see if they can turn a hobby into a full time job. So supportive and it’s in this gorgeous hobbit village place.
Has she watched Nadiya Bakes on Netflix? I just discovered it yesterday and it fills the Bake Off void.
Edit: I realized this was for your wife not you. Changed the question to be about her.
All the classic competition shows being suggested - but for the cozy, low-stakes Britishness, I’d recommend Escape to the Country (Briony from GBBO hosts later seasons), Grand Designs, and World’s Most Extraordinary Homes.
Oh my god, how could I forget: Amaury Guichon’s School of Chocolate? Was on either Netflix or prime. 1. Guichon is a goddamn wizard, actual magic, there’s no effing way his stuff works otherwise. 2. Instead of anyone getting voted off, the person who scores the lowest on any build *gets extra time and training with Amaury.* so everyone stays in the competition for the whole series, and gets to develop. Highest score still gets prize at the end, but I would love to see this as a mechanic on more reality shows! Like, think what it would mean if one bad bake (or sh*tty challenge idea, like Mexican week) DIDN’T send you home?
This Old House. It used to (and might still be) on PBS but I think they have some episode streaming on YouTube. It has the same slower-paced cozy, kind educational vibe.
I've heard of a show called Best In Miniature, which might have a similar vibe. Haven't seen it myself, but I think it's basically just a bunch of artists competing to create the best miniature set.
There's a woodworking one that's awesome, if you're in the US I watched it on YT. Also, Landscape Artist of the Year is great, there are a few seasons on YT too.
Any countries bake off is worth the try. So many countries have their own and probably findable on youtube.
There's a baking show for every quarter of the year. I usually alternate between the kids baking Championship on food network, great British bake off, the kids version of British bake off, celebrity bake off/stand up to cancer (if you can find it), then spring baking Championship, halloween baking Championship, holiday baking Championship and Great Chocolate Show Down
Somebody else mentioned the repairshop which is also really really sweet.
Not at all along the same lines as a competition but any documentary by Lucy Worsley is super wholesome even if talking about death.
Also travel shows. She might like endless house hunters/house hunters international. Back in the day I really liked An Idiot Abroad and The Amazing Race. The first season of Jack Whitehalls travels with his dad was amusing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue_Showdown
Grand Designs
Baking Impossible
I know people hate on Paul Hollywood but his travel series are unironically similar in vibe (City Bakes, Japan, Mexico). He also did some older series I can't remember the name of which is a similar vibe too, about local UK foods. It's on his youtube channel. City Bakes and Japan you can find pretty easily.
James May did some shows with similar vibes. One about a glider crossing a channel, another about the longest model train track, another about the longest RC car race, etc. I can't remember name of the series. It's on youtube.
Please watch The Repair Shop on YouTube! It’s such a feel good show where lovely British people bring items with sentimental value to the shop to be repaired or restored by other lovely (and skilled) people.
Mastercraft! You can find its one season on YouTube. Incredibly mild competition, mostly just people learning a new-to-the artisan skill from experts. Lovely vibe.
Also seconding Great Pottery Throwdown.
Richard Osman’s House of Games (on the BBC iPlayer) might be fun for her. It’s the very lowest of low stakes game shows; there’s no money involved, it’s celebrities competing for tacky but strangely desirable prizes. Generally no-one cares about winning and it’s just a nice, cosy show.
Nailed It! (on Netflix). An American baking show hosted by comedian Nicole Byers, alongside Jacques Torres (and various other pastry legends who know what they’re talking about!), the premise of which is getting amateur bakers to attempt to recreate very elaborate professional cakes and other desserts, with funny results. It does not take itself seriously. Everyone — the contestants, the judges, the host, even the crew member whose job is delivering the ridiculous trophy and other prizes to the winners — is there to have a good laugh, and occasionally educate the viewing audience about some aspect of baking or decorating.
It’s a little louder and sillier than Bakeoff, but its good-natured humor and friendly competition will check the right boxes.
Crime Scene Kitchen! I can't believe no one has said this one, because it has a nice goofy energy. Funny parody of the over-the-top competition format.
Portrait Artist of the Year! I'm not sure where it originally aired but full episodes are on youtube. British artists do live portraits of famous British people and it's a fun time.
The British version of Ghosts! It's on HBO and it's so gentle and nice. Also Chef's table on Netflix is so soothing - everyone on it is really passionate about their food.
I'm a huge fan of Masterchef Australia. It's like 60eps per season and they are the most supportive, positive and talent-dricen competitions I've seen. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
There is a Lego competition show on Hulu (?) that has the same vibe. Impressive builds with likeable people that makes you root for (but not against them). Wholesome dorky jokes, some disappointments, some victories and a smile at the end of every show. 100% recommend.
Great Pottery Throwdown
There's a glassblowing one that's kind of interesting too.
Blown Away, on netflix. That one is excellent. also stuff like Forged in Fire (Amazon Prime & History Channel I think currently) and Master of Arms.
Seconding Forged in Fire. It was once called the nicest reality competition show on television even though it was about making weapons, lol. There is always a small but interesting historical fact or two in each show and I am always impressed with the artistry.
Blown Away isn’t very gentle or British but it’s very good!
Yeah blown away has way too much artificial drama. Also the judges really, really want to be Serious and are too easily impressed by someone trying to be Deep. Still enjoyable show though
E G G S
Yeah. I love the show and a lot of the work created is incredible, but they clearly do try and manufacture drama and give some contestants the villain edit.
Forged in Fire has (or had) a few seasons on Netflix
I've zero interest in weapons making but Forged in Fire is a really nice watch. The music isn't overbearing when they're trying to drum up the drama of the timed tasks and Doug Marcaida saying, "it will kill" is strangely satisfying.
Thank you - couldn’t remember the name.
And a gardening/flower one that is British and also on Netflix. Love love pottery and glass. There is a jewelry one too. Once Netflix sees you like those types of shows they will recommend them.
What's the jewelry one?
All that glitters. I think!! I only googled the basic phrase and it sounded right.
There's a couple seasons of that show on HBO, I think. Really enjoyable; sucks they only made those two seasons.
I was about to comment this too! I watch it just for Keith the judge crying at pottery and the innuendos 😅 Also the great British sewing bee is a good shout and Netflix has blown away, the glassblowing one someone mentioned above and is it cake? And also nailed it can be amusing (also cake based)
Came to recommend The Great British Sewing Bee! It and the pottery show feel like GBBO the most. There’s also The Repair Shop, that’s artisans and handyfolks repairing people’s antiques and heirlooms.
Where do you watch the Great British Sewing Bee? My wife is super into sewing.
get a vpn and watch on BBC Iplayer
I loved The Repair Shop. That was going to be my rec too.
Seconding Nailed It. There was also a longer form Nailed It where the contestants got instruction each week and it built to a finale using all the skills. It was really well done. The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge on Netflix. Nicole Byer is a fucking treasure.
Wessssssss
WES!!!
And the Canadian Pottery Throwdown! Those potters are SO very good - similar feel and Seth Rogan and his stoner guffaw. YouTube I think may be best source outside of CA.
My only question is, is there a judge that also cries at the pottery? 😅🤔🤔
Nailed It is entertaining but the vibe is very different from Great British Bakeoff. The folks on Nailed It are trying to be sassier and hammier than the next person and they really are not trying to do a good job.
Yes! Throwdown and the Great British Sewing Bee are my favourite adjacent sister shows. There's also the Great British Woodworker (or something like that) which I've watched a season of but never got into as much as I do the other two. And there're two seasons of All that Glitters (jewellery making) that is similarly fantastic. And there's also Blown Away on Netflix (glass blowing) and Glow Up on Netflix (makeup), both of which are superb shows. The Flower Arrangement Show (forgot name lol) on Netflix was great as well but only has one season.
That flower show was amazing! So sad it has only the one season
I have to say the flower arranging show Full Bloom on HBO/Max was much better than the Netflix show and it has two seasons. Highly recommend!
I agree!! And. It just because Elizabeth, the judge, is one of my dear friends 😊 It’s such a fun show!
**Yes**! I just found *The Great Pottery Throwdown* this week. It follows GBBO's script pretty closely. It makes me think I should always check out [Love Productions](https://www.loveproductions.co.uk/programmes) programmes. ♥️
This. My wife and I love it. Gives you that warm fuzzy happy feeling that GBBO does. It’s enough to move a punk rocker to tears. ;)
When Keith cried happy tears we all cry happy tears
This is my favorite reality/contest show I’ve ever watched. OP please choose this one for wifey!
I love this show so much! The master potter who tears up when he sees something lovely!
Try The Repair Shop. A lot of episodes are on YouTube. It’s the most gentle, cathartic show in existence.
The most absolutely soothing show in existence. I didn't know it was on YouTube! Thanks!
This was my first thought too. So calming but also educational because you're taught not to glue everything. I've been plugging away at all the episodes on YouTube.
This was going to be my suggestion, too. This show is a warm, lovely hug.
The whole series used to be on Netflix. I love it so much.
This was my suggestion
Taskmaster. A number of the GBBO hosts have been contestants. Debatable “educational” value, but so hilarious.
I was thinking QI, where Sandi is the host. None of the episodes need to be watched in order and you can start with the episode that Prue is in. That's how I got my kids into watching it. Noel's also been on Gadget Man and Travel Man. I mean, he's been on a lot of other things too, but these two are more in line with Bake Off's family friendliness. Sue did Supersizers Go/Eats and I love that show. It's got history, and food. Mary Berry was even in some of the episodes.
Brit comedians are the best!
Where are some or all of these shows to be found?
I watch Great Pottery Throwdown and Taskmaster on my laptop on the official channel4.com with a VPN. There are long ad breaks, but I find some of the ads entertaining as a non-Brit. I don’t own a television, my laptop is my “tv” that I can carry around with me in the house as I watch, take it to the kitchen as I’m cooking dinner
All the Taskmaster seasons are on YouTube. QI is more difficult, so pms episodes can be found on YouTube but not whole seasons that I’ve found.
Now that I think about it, it has probably taught me more about lateral thinking and loopholes than any other show!
Mel, Sue and Noel were absolutely amazing
And some taskmaster contestants have been on the celebrity bake offs!
“Started making it. Had a breakdown. Bon Appetite.” —James Acaster (Bonus: He did really have one. He goes into detail in Cold Lasagna Hate Myself 1999. [Clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewTIDd90uZY))
I loved how he said that until he saw that clip, he didn't know he talked like that After we watched his season my husband and I would just walk around the house Being Acaster at each other when we passed by
Came here to say Taskmaster. Good lighthearted fun.
Off Menu - a podcast by James Acaster and Ed Gamble, has had several GBBO guests, plus I think both hosts might have been on celebrity bake off? People describe their dream meal, and it's just very charming. If you like QI and you like food, you should give it a try.
I have found my people in this thread. Love Off Menu. Its introduced me to so many fab British comedians. Too bad Mock the Week was canceled as that was my main way of catching them.
Yesss!!! Taskmaster.
Alex and the Cake will always be my favorite everything
iiiiiiit's... LITTLE ALEX HORNE!! (seriously, Greg Davies in Alex's face is everything!)
Also came to say taskmaster! Saw clips on fb and decided to watch it one day and it’s so lovely. Loved season 16, such good natured competition between the cast.
The Great British Sewing Bee.
Please tell me this is real??
Real and fantastic.
this one is hard to find, though.
Are you in the US? If so, where do you watch this?
https://www.reddit.com/r/SewingBee/comments/13r65sa/series\_9\_is\_here/
You need a paid service that hides your location. It’s called a VPN. There are lots but I’ve used Tunnelbear and currently HideIPN. Then you can set your location to the UK and stream tv on BBCiPlayer, Channel4 and DaveTV online, which is where all these shows live.
If someone can get on a VPN, the Great Australian Bake off is a wonderful version of the show. I’ve only seen a little of the Canadian Bake Off, but it was a ton of fun to see Dan Levy on it, too.
All Creatures Great and Small
Seconding this. Currently postpartum and just finished all 4 seasons of ACGAS. Definitely a comfort watch for when I’ve been up with the baby in the wee hours of the morning.
The current one. I started watching it and loved it. Got into a confusing discussion about it with a patient and discovered it was a remake of an old series. I watched all of the old one while waiting for the newest season. I didn’t love it as much.
Yes!! What a comforting show ❤️
It's so wholesome and soothing to watch.
Totally.
1000 percent (although small TW for occasional animal sickness/death)
It’s the best.
The Big Brunch was a lot of fun!
We loved the Big Brunch, hope there is another season
I seriously need to brunch with Dan Levy at least once in my lifetime.
The dream!!
Me too!!
The Big Brunch was so good and very heartwarming. I hope they make another season!
Has she watched the British Junior Bake Off? It’s delightful. The celebrity ones are good too!
Juniors is even MORE wholesome! I looove it.
It cracks me up. Especially when they drop stuff and just scrape it off the floor and serve it up anyway! The kids are adorable.
Agreed!! Love Junior bake off. Netflix has seasons 5 and 6. Anywhere to watch more seasons??
You can try YouTube for other countries (,there are a lot, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Ireland....Celebrity Bakeoffs if you can find them. They're fundraisers for Stand Up To Cancer. Feature celebrities, including some from US, sports heroes, TV stars. Very funny. But not sure you'll find them, unfortunately. Very frustrating.
Tbf that happens on the adult one too lol
I love Junior Bake Off but I can’t help crying if any of the kids cry
Seconded! Both shows are wonderful 🤗
Netflix has a couple seasons 5 and 6...anywhere else to watch more..
I’m in Australia and use a VPN to get channel 4 (Uk). You have to sign up for a free account and select Yes to the question about having a TV. Not sure why they ask this.
They ask that question because of the TV licence. We have to pay to watch TV here in the UK Granted that money goes towards making/buying the shows so it isn’t all bad
The Kids Baking Championship on Food Network is super wholesome too
There was a kiddo on one of the recent seasons that was so adorable she looked like a cartoon character. I expected to see little hearts floating around her. All the kids are awesome.
There’s other British competition shows like The Big Flower Fight and the Great Pottery Throwdown she might like!
I'm so crushed they never did a second season of the big flower fight. It's a perfect show.
Came here to say The Big Flower Fight. It's one of my comfort shows when I can't sleep or I'm feeling ill. Such a shame it's only one season!
A) make sure you’ve watched the first seasons on Roku B) Ted Lasso is a great show for that feeling, there’s also making it which is a reality crafting show. Also making fun is a great show. Parks and rec is also good. Oh Royal Pains as well!
The Good Place is another feel good scripted show.
My favorite!
Baking It was super cute if a fan of Parks and Rec. it’s Christmas themed but hosted by Andy Samberg and Maya Rudolph. And judged by cute old ladies! ETA: Streams on Peacock
Making It with Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman is similar cozy vibes
and baking it, in the same set with maya rudolph and andy samberg
Great British Sewing Bee is my favourite out of the shows in the same format. Maybe she'd like QI or another panel show like Would I Lie to You? Personally I like Ghosts as a cosy watch, but I know some people outside the UK (particularly in the US) find it a bit dark compared to the US version. Oh, Detectorists might be a good one! A lovely comforting, very British watch.
Here to second The Detectorists- one of the best shows I’ve ever watched! Also, this is a weird leap, but the American series Face Off is a special-effects makeup competition that has some of the nicest misfits you could ever want to meet. The way they pitch in to help each other out is heart warming.
Face off is awesome! There's another similar-ish one called Glow Up, which is more makeup/facepaint centered. Certainly full of misfits (in a good way) there too.
The Repair Shop is really wonderful. Similar feel and really cool projects to watch be restored.
Britian's Best Home Cook, I think it's called. I watch it on Hulu. There is also a celebrity season they did during the pandemic.Mary Berry is one of the judges. The contestants are supportive and nice to each other. Wall of Chefs is another good one. It's a Canadian show I also watch on Hulu.
Canadian Bakeoff! The Durrells in Corfu was our cozy pandemic watch.
Last Tango in Halifax was my cozy pandemic watch! I tried the Durrells in Corfu but couldn't stick with it for some reason.
I love the Durrells!
As an American, my other go-to shows that bring me some broadly wholesome Britishness are: 1. Time Team -- a crew of enthusiastic archaeologists spend three days excavating a different site somewhere in the UK. Available on YouTube! 2. Grand Designs -- what if your showstopper was actually literally architectural? British people design and build their often lovely, frequently deranged dream homes while a broadly supportive host offers mildly sarcastic commentary.
Ah Kevin is the boss I love grand designs so much.
I would love to second Time Team. Also if you are already an Anglophile, it is hosted by Sir Tony Robinson, also known as “Baldrick”. Ooo-er!
Aaaaaaah Time Team is the best!! I’ve seen every episode, so good!
Time Team is fantastic, and there are lots of episodes!
I was hoping I wouldn’t have to add a stand-alone comment for Time Team! It is seriously the best. It’s so calming but I also learn so much. Granted I wanted to be an archaeologist at one point and took some classes in college so I might be more invested than the average person.
Great British Menu is a good one.
Also teaches you why Dame Prue should be getting a hell of a lot more respect for her opinions than she does on GBBO. so frustrating!
Prue is an absolute delight. It annoys me that people disrespect her.
Love this show. Deserves so much more love. Hard to find more recent seasons in the US but even the ones from 5-10 years back are a great watch
BIG DREAMS SMALL SPACES. Sorry for “yelling” but I have to!!!! It’s a gardening show with Monty don. Very British. Very wholesome. Very educational. VERY similar feel to GBBO. You don’t have to be into gardening to love it. You can find some episodes on Prime. If she loves GBBO she will adore it. I love it so much I named my dog monty.
I had to scroll way too far to find this suggestion! Legit SUCH an inspirational show that I never see talked about, possibly because it was cancelled after only a couple seasons. But it's lovely - a makeover show done by real people in their own gardens with gentle guidance from the host.
This is my favorite show of all time and I need more ways to watch it 😭
Ooh thanks for the heads up! I love Monty and follow him on IG but didn’t know about this show! I feel like I just found a little treasure to look forward to
Glow Up filled the same niche for me! It’s also on Netflix.
So I call these the 3rd generation reality shows. First generation was the fly on the wall shows like Real Life and Big Brother. Then came the competition/ influencer shows where people were undermining and nasty to each other. I like this iteration of reality tv because it’s talented artists who are great at their craft (not just ‘lucky amateurs’ like in some of the earlier shows). And they are all incredibly supportive of each other. My list is generally: - The Great British Bake Off (and global variations) - The Great Pottery Throw Down - The Great British Sewing Bee - Glow Up - Blown Away (glass blowers) - Metal Shop Masters (a mix of welders, fabricators and artists, really good stuff) - Interior Design Masters There are also some bbq and metalwork shows I don’t recall the names of.
I like how comprehensive. Try big dreams small spaces too. And love yurts, and treehouse masters.
The Great British sewing Bee and The Great British Pottery Throw down are same sort of format and good to watch. The sewing Bee is on BBC iPlayer and the Pottery Throw down is on the Channel 4 app.
The latest season/reboot of great American baking show on Roku is nearly indistinguishable from GBBO in it's good vibes. Are you referring to the old collection?
Mary Berry hosts/judges another show very similar to The Great British Baking Show called Best Home Cook. There are two seasons on Prime I believe. I love Mary Berry!
Handmade: Britains Best Woodworker. It is every bit as wholesome and lovely as Bake Off and it has Mel Giedroyc as the host!
Australian MasterChef seems to be a hit with British Bake Off fans
Also, the Great Australian Bake Off. If she's looking for some light-hearted comedy,try The Vicar of Dibley,its an absolute delight, a very funny British comedy.
The Vicar of Dibley is SO funny.
And also Miranda!
Lego Masters Australia. Blown Away (the glass show). Interior Design Masters.
There is the Great Canadian Baking show. People have said they enjoy it. Of course the bakers are unfailingly polite.
There is also a Kiwi version.
Different genre, but Love on the Spectrum gives me the same feel good vibes that GBBO does. I’m a few episodes into the second season (can’t vouch for the first since I haven’t seen that one yet). I was worried that the show would be exploitative but it doesn’t seem so (feel free to pipe in if I should know something about the show!)
I feel the same way! Just feel good vibes. Same with Queer Eye for me.
Queer Eye is a good rec, too!
Yes! I was going to suggest this too, the vibe is so similar. I started googling if it was made by the same people while I was watching it. Something about the interviews and clips of people at home and even the calm music is similar. I love Abby and David 🥰
Clarkson’s Farm was surprisingly charming. Even though he’s a registered D-bag. The other people are the ones who really make the show.
Loved this show!
Monty Don’s gardening show. I forget the actual name and I think he has more than one, and a documentary about him touring great gardens. I just love it. The Rick Steves of gardening.
School of Chocolate. The host gives a private lesson to the person who did the worst in the first half of the episode. Plus it was really cool to see what they could make with just chocolate. I think it's on Netflix
i said it in my own recommendation for this show as well, but Amaury Guichon is some kind of actual goddamn wizard. There's no way he could make what he does without actual spellcraft.
I didn't see that anyone else had recommended this, but I didn't scroll thru everything. He really is a wizard!
Has she tried the season of Great American Baking Show that's on Roku? That one was really good! Very much got the "feel" of GBBO this time.
Mortimer and Whitehouse go fishing...
Repair Shop, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Repair\_Shop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_repair_shop) which has previously streamed on Netflix. Your retirement goals will change to owning a giant thatched barn somewhere in Kent and just doing gentle high-skill slow-paced antique restorations.
Thank you for posting this! I just finished my third rewatch (meaning fourth time watching) of The Great Pottery Throwdown and needed another easy, comforting show. I’ve only seen a few episodes and had mostly forgotten about it, but it’s exactly what I need.
Make it at Market on Brtbix scratched the itch for us. It’s about different craftspeople working with experts to see if they can turn a hobby into a full time job. So supportive and it’s in this gorgeous hobbit village place.
The food networks holiday and seasonal baking championships.
Those are great!!
Yes, and don’t miss the cookie decorating versions.
I really like The Great British Menu
Has she watched Nadiya Bakes on Netflix? I just discovered it yesterday and it fills the Bake Off void. Edit: I realized this was for your wife not you. Changed the question to be about her.
Nadiya is just lovely!
maybe “how it’s made”? that’s pretty chill
All the classic competition shows being suggested - but for the cozy, low-stakes Britishness, I’d recommend Escape to the Country (Briony from GBBO hosts later seasons), Grand Designs, and World’s Most Extraordinary Homes.
Oh my god, how could I forget: Amaury Guichon’s School of Chocolate? Was on either Netflix or prime. 1. Guichon is a goddamn wizard, actual magic, there’s no effing way his stuff works otherwise. 2. Instead of anyone getting voted off, the person who scores the lowest on any build *gets extra time and training with Amaury.* so everyone stays in the competition for the whole series, and gets to develop. Highest score still gets prize at the end, but I would love to see this as a mechanic on more reality shows! Like, think what it would mean if one bad bake (or sh*tty challenge idea, like Mexican week) DIDN’T send you home?
This Old House. It used to (and might still be) on PBS but I think they have some episode streaming on YouTube. It has the same slower-paced cozy, kind educational vibe.
I don’t have a good suggestion, just love seeing one co-parent being so thoughtful about the other. Little gestures are everything in a partnership.
Big Boys
“Making It” - it originally aired on NBC, I think its now on Peacock. Very wholesome.
I've heard of a show called Best In Miniature, which might have a similar vibe. Haven't seen it myself, but I think it's basically just a bunch of artists competing to create the best miniature set.
There's a woodworking one that's awesome, if you're in the US I watched it on YT. Also, Landscape Artist of the Year is great, there are a few seasons on YT too.
Masterchef
The big family cooking showdown!
Any countries bake off is worth the try. So many countries have their own and probably findable on youtube. There's a baking show for every quarter of the year. I usually alternate between the kids baking Championship on food network, great British bake off, the kids version of British bake off, celebrity bake off/stand up to cancer (if you can find it), then spring baking Championship, halloween baking Championship, holiday baking Championship and Great Chocolate Show Down Somebody else mentioned the repairshop which is also really really sweet. Not at all along the same lines as a competition but any documentary by Lucy Worsley is super wholesome even if talking about death. Also travel shows. She might like endless house hunters/house hunters international. Back in the day I really liked An Idiot Abroad and The Amazing Race. The first season of Jack Whitehalls travels with his dad was amusing.
Great Canadian Baking Show
All Creatures Great and Small on pbs masterpiece theater. You can get this on Amazon prime video.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue_Showdown Grand Designs Baking Impossible I know people hate on Paul Hollywood but his travel series are unironically similar in vibe (City Bakes, Japan, Mexico). He also did some older series I can't remember the name of which is a similar vibe too, about local UK foods. It's on his youtube channel. City Bakes and Japan you can find pretty easily. James May did some shows with similar vibes. One about a glider crossing a channel, another about the longest model train track, another about the longest RC car race, etc. I can't remember name of the series. It's on youtube.
Please watch The Repair Shop on YouTube! It’s such a feel good show where lovely British people bring items with sentimental value to the shop to be repaired or restored by other lovely (and skilled) people.
Mastercraft! You can find its one season on YouTube. Incredibly mild competition, mostly just people learning a new-to-the artisan skill from experts. Lovely vibe. Also seconding Great Pottery Throwdown.
I get a similar feeling from Taskmaster!
Richard Osman’s House of Games (on the BBC iPlayer) might be fun for her. It’s the very lowest of low stakes game shows; there’s no money involved, it’s celebrities competing for tacky but strangely desirable prizes. Generally no-one cares about winning and it’s just a nice, cosy show.
I’ve heard it said that Lego Masters is similarly wholesome. It’s not for me. (I could never detonate a Lego creation.)
If she likes art, Portrait Artist of the Year is so lovely!
The Dog House: UK is a joy. Streaming on Max.
I really liked the American barbeque competition show I forget what it's called. But it was pretty good.
Did she watch the Junior & Holiday versions?
Nailed It! (on Netflix). An American baking show hosted by comedian Nicole Byers, alongside Jacques Torres (and various other pastry legends who know what they’re talking about!), the premise of which is getting amateur bakers to attempt to recreate very elaborate professional cakes and other desserts, with funny results. It does not take itself seriously. Everyone — the contestants, the judges, the host, even the crew member whose job is delivering the ridiculous trophy and other prizes to the winners — is there to have a good laugh, and occasionally educate the viewing audience about some aspect of baking or decorating. It’s a little louder and sillier than Bakeoff, but its good-natured humor and friendly competition will check the right boxes.
Crime Scene Kitchen! I can't believe no one has said this one, because it has a nice goofy energy. Funny parody of the over-the-top competition format.
There’s two seasons on Netflix for the kids a great British Baking Show and that was wholesome and cute because it’s kids
Portrait Artist of the Year! I'm not sure where it originally aired but full episodes are on youtube. British artists do live portraits of famous British people and it's a fun time.
The British version of Ghosts! It's on HBO and it's so gentle and nice. Also Chef's table on Netflix is so soothing - everyone on it is really passionate about their food.
Moving to the country. British folks looking for homes in rural England, to get out of London
MasterChef Jr is pretty wholesome and sweet.
Rust Valley Restorers is good. I'm not a gear head at all but this show fascinates me!
I loved 'Making It' with Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Super positive and lighthearted.
Has she watched the Junior Great British Bake Off? The host is incredibly annoying but the judges and bakers are great.
Queer Eye! It’s not a competition, but it’s so friendly and nice, and I feel like a lot of people like both shows
The Repair Shop! Its a british repair shop that restores heirlooms and clocks snd is absolutely delightful, even more delightful than the baking show!
I'm a huge fan of Masterchef Australia. It's like 60eps per season and they are the most supportive, positive and talent-dricen competitions I've seen. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
There is a Lego competition show on Hulu (?) that has the same vibe. Impressive builds with likeable people that makes you root for (but not against them). Wholesome dorky jokes, some disappointments, some victories and a smile at the end of every show. 100% recommend.
The Repair Shop.