‘The Great British Baking Show’: Michael Chakraverty is the Early Star Baker of This Season

In Week 3 of this season of The Great British Baking Show, an unlikely hero emerged from the pack. We’ve had our eye on this baker since the beginning, but in “Bread Week,” Michael Chakraverty straight up became a star. Star Baker, that is. In doing so, Michael proved that he not only has the technical goods to go all the way to the final, but he also cinched his win with oodles of adorable, self-deprecating charm.

It’s hard not to fall for the way he self-consciously giggles through every moment, and how he hugs his fellow contestants when they are down. It’s in how he can’t decide if the flavors in his Showstopper bake remind him of “Mediterranea…Mediterranium? Mediterranea..” And then he just decides: “Italy.”

And it’s how when this week’s episode begins, Michael admits, “I’m not too confident on bread. I’ve got a bit of ‘bread dread.'” Then what happens? He aces the first challenge, earns the first Hollywood handshake of the season, and later takes Star Baker for Bread Week.

Michael isn’t just Star Baker this week; he’s the early breakout star of this season of The Great British Baking Show.

One of the things The Great British Baking Show has become known for are its dazzlingly likable contestants. Forgive the cliché of a literary metaphor, but they are the Hufflepuffs of reality TV: sweet, loyal, industrious, and kind. Still, there are a few contestants who pop out each season for their infectiously likable personalities. They are the ones happy to crack jokes at their own expense, comfort their neighbors, and give great flustered looks to the camera. They might even get a little sassy with the judges!

While it’s still early in the season to get to know each and every baker, Michael has been amusing us since the first episode with his klutzy ways (all those cuts on his fingers!), hilarious bon mots (“It’s only our childhood dreams on the line!”), and the way he’s clung tenderly to Michelle’s side in the first two technical challenges.

That’s just Michael’s personality, though. Since he’s been in the tent, he’s shown signs that he’s not just a talented baker, but one with room to grow. Which in The Great British Baking Show is…good. So far, he’s managed to impress with his treasure chest birthday cake in Week One, but he wowed Paul Hollywood himself this week with his beautifully scarlet-tinted tear-and-share loaf. Looking at his performance in the technicals, he’s managed to lift himself out of the bottom third to two back-to-back weeks in the middle. (That’s no mean feat!) To think that in the first challenge, he was slicing up his hands every few seconds, and in less than three weeks, he’s earned the first Hollywood handshake of the season? That’s huge growth!

Michael is sort of the ideal contestant for The Great British Baking Show. He’s sincere, kind, a little bit silly, hilariously witty, and works hard at his bakes. Also, he just seems really glad to even be there. That’s almost half of what it takes to be a good contestant on The Great British Baking Show: an overt enthusiasm to be in the tent.

Luckily for us, Michael’s win this week suggests he might really be in the race for the long haul. Winning Star Baker on Bread Week is statistically speaking, a big deal for contestants on The Great British Baking Show. Despite Paul Hollywood’s assertion in Collection 4 (Series 7) that Star Baker in Bread Week always makes it to the Finals, it definitely does boost Michael’s shot at it. Of the nine past seasons of The Great British Baking Show, six of Bread Week’s Star Bakers made it to the Finals, and three of those won the whole darn thing. Which, if we’re going by what the Brits call “maths,” means Michael’s got a one in three chance of winning this season.

Let’s not jinx things, though. For now, let’s just enjoy Michael Chakraverty for what he is: a sweet young man who is good at baking sweet (and savory) treats. In other words, a Great British Baking Show star.

Watch The Great British Baking Show on Netflix