The illustrations on The Great
British Bake Off are as integral to the show as the tent, innuendos and the
Hollywood Handshake over the last 10 years – but have you ever spared a thought for who is behind them?
Well, after going without much credit over the last decade, we finally know who is responsible for the handcrafted drawings that demonstrate what each baker will be making, after the food illustrator posted a thread on Twitter. Ahead of the new series’ launch on Tuesday night, artist Tom Hovey revealed he was celebrating 10 years of working on the show.
Alongside the illustration of the winning bakes from the first and most recent series, he told of how he landed the job by chance. Series 10 of @BritishBakeOff starts today. Which means I’ve been producing the illustrations for 10 years! #GBBOHere is what series 1’s winning illustrations looked like in 2010 and Series 9 looked like 2018. pic.twitter.com/uIRGwtk7Tk— Tom Hovey (@tomhoveyart) August 27, 2019Tom tweeted: “I moved to
London in 2010, & got a job logging footage in the edit of the first episode. The editor (Simon Evans) & the director (Andy Devonshire) decided there was a visual element missing from the show. Something to help the viewers understand what was hopefully being created.
“I got the gig and the rest is history!”
Revealing he and his team have drawn “well over 3,000 bakes to date”, Tom described Bake Off as “the hardest, longest, most challenging and brilliant project I’ve ever been a part of.”
He also paid tribute to his “incredible long suffering wife Candy” who he said “has had to put up with missing anniversaries, date nights and spending many weekends and evenings alone because I’m drawing cakes.”
Tom also shouted out his team at his eponymous illustration company, Hovey Studios, noting that Caspar Wain, Alex Hovey, Sophie Ridley, Liam Callebout and Lauren Gore have helped him on the show since 2016.I moved to London in 2010, & got a job logging footage in the edit of the first episode. The editor (Simon Evans) & the director (Andy Devonshire) decided there was a visual element missing from the show. Something to help the viewers understand what was hopefully being created.— Tom Hovey (@tomhoveyart) August 27, 2019I’m grateful every day for the break it’s given me into the industry. I’m thankful for all the producers, directors, food researchers, runners, loggers and every member of the LOVE Productions, production team that I’ve worked with over the past 10 series.— Tom Hovey (@tomhoveyart) August 27, 2019Thank you to everyone that has watched the show and continues to watch. Thank you to everyone that has sent me messages of love and support of my work, you have all inspired me to keep going when it’s 5am and I still have 3 croquembouche to colour!— Tom Hovey (@tomhoveyart) August 27, 2019Thank you to all the amazing bakers whose talents and creativity makes my brain melt every year, with what they can create with some, flour and eggs.— Tom Hovey (@tomhoveyart) August 27, 2019Thank you to all the talented illustrators who’ve joined Studio Hovey since 2016. Caspar Wain, Alex Hovey, Sophie Ridley, Liam Callebout & Lauren Gore.— Tom Hovey (@tomhoveyart) August 27, 2019Most of all thank you to my incredible long suffering wife Candy who has had to put up with missing anniversaries, date nights and spending many weekends and evenings alone because I’m drawing cakes. Candy has been my rock throughout, massive love! ❤️🍰🙏— Tom Hovey (@tomhoveyart) August 27, 2019Who's watching Bake Off tonight? A huge congratulations to @tomhoveyart, who celebrates 10 years in creating the infamous illustrations for the Bake Off tonight! From a design perspective, we love his instantly recognisable artwork, as well as his delicate finishes. #GBBOpic.twitter.com/kwOXRPntYJ— Alchemy Creations (@Alchemisters) August 27, 2019The new series of Bake Off got off to a rather smutty start thanks to baker Helena and her ‘fairy garden’ on Tuesday night, while Henry also suffered a disaster that will go down in Bake Off history.
However, it is Jamie who has already marked himself out as everyone’s favourite baker this year, despite having a disastrous start to the competition.
The Great British Bake Off continues next Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4. READ MORE... A Bake Off Contestant's 'Fairy Garden' Served Up One Of The Show's Filthiest-Ever Moments A Disaster That Will Go Down In Bake Off History Struck A Contestant During Their First Challenge How To Make Angel Cake Slices, Like The Great British Bake Off's Contestants