It’s hard to believe there was almost a world where Natalie Tran wasn’t the host of The Great Australian Bake Off.
She quickly became a warm and exciting energy on the beloved baking series, known for her witty banter and love of cake. But when Natalie received an offer from Binge to host the show, she thought it was a joke.
But a misunderstanding wasn’t why she almost missed the hosting gig, because by the time she called Binge back, the offer was rescinded.
“I was at work so I got a voicemail. By the time I called them back, they were just like, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it, it’s past.’ So I thought, ‘Well, easy come, easy go.’ A few days later they called to ask me to test with Cal [Wilson],” she reflected with The Weekly, referring to her former co-host who sadly passed away in 2023.
With Natalie’s love of cake – and we don’t mean the normal love of cake, but rather drive 40 minutes one-way for the perfect birthday cake – she didn’t hesitate to accept the role. “My family takes cake very seriously,” she added.
But creating wild, and near impossible desserts as a contestant is a very different experience. Even after three seasons, Nat still questions how these bakers step up to the plate.
“This season, I genuinely turned to Darren [Purchese] and Rachel [Khoo] some mornings before we would start shooting, and I’d say, ‘How are we going to do this?’. I’m looking forward to seeing those weeks play out, and hearing what people have to say,” she teased. “I look forward to the mayhem of some weeks.”
Her all-time favourite challenge is undoubtedly last season’s Biscuit City which saw contestants construct a detailed 3D architectural city using only biscuits, icing, and edible decorations. Watching these ideas come to life, Nat confessed she got a little teary.
Admittedly, Nat tears at most dessert reveals… production just cuts it out. The upcoming 2026 season is going to be no different. The upcoming season airs on August 11, with Nat returning as co-host with Tom Walker, and its judges Darren and Rachel.
A brand new flock of contestants are preparing to create the impossible – but this won’t be their only obstacle. The Great Australian Bake Off films for just under two months, separating these contestants from their friends, family and all familiarity.
“Every year it’s always people from really different backgrounds,” she said. “I really enjoyed watching people learn skills and [discover] skills they didn’t know they had.
“This is a strange thing to say but one of the biggest challenges the bakers [face is being] away from their family and friends. So, it’s a really big journey for them and it’s always really admirable to watch how they approach it.”
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