Of Mice and Men and Men That Look Like Cats That Look Like Men. | Jesse Sparks, Great British Baking Show
On the newest season of the Great British Baking Show, one clumsy yet capable contestant has many viewers falling for him
Paul Hollywood’s icy blue eyes aren’t the only thing piercing viewers’ hearts on the newest season of the Great British Baking Show.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (and maybe even then), you’ve likely heard about the cast of Collection 12 for a handful of reasons: the first being that this season’s contestants are remarkably talented, and the second being that there is an unusually stunning contestant named Dylan that has rapidly become the internet’s latest crush.
Came for the cakes stayed for Dylan #thegreatbritishbakeoff #tgbbo #gbbo #GBBO #dylanbakeoff #bakeoff #gbbo2024 #fyp #foryoupage #fypシ゚
Since 2010, the BBC television series, which currently airs weekly on Netflix, has featured 12 self-taught bakers as they compete in various themed challenges to crown a winner. In that time, the show has provided us with fan favorites who have gone on to publish cookbooks, like Season 12’s Jürgen Krauss and Season 9’s Kim-Joy Hewlett. This season is refreshingly sweet, with numerous contestants cementing themselves in GBBO canon, like Slovakian legend Nelly; Andy, a Dad-joke personified; and teenage sweetheart Sumayah — who adores her pet duck, Pato.
The main standout, though, is Dylan Bachelet, a 20-year-old retail assistant from Buckinghamshire. Not only has he stolen the judges’ attention with his striking flavor combinations, but also the hearts of the internet.
Despite the show doing him incredibly dirty in his Episode 1 introductory clip (showing him clumsily falling off of his skateboard), and then emphasizing his clumsiness again in Episode 2 in a scene in which falls off his chair, he’s managed to not only avoid giving viewers the ick but also make them fall for him all the more. And since he first graced our screens, the most online GBBO fans have been racking their brains to describe just what is so alluring about the bearded baker with an eyebrow slit and a heart of gold. One X user remarked that he looks like the would-be child of Khal Drogo and Daenerys from Game of Thrones, while another stated that we simply need to “discuss” him. The official GBBO account is also in on the bit.
Simply Psychology
On Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, many internet denizens agree that Dylan tops the pyramid.
Outside of Dylan being ridiculously good-looking, he is also an extraordinarily talented baker, crafting unique flavor combinations like yuzu-and-mint biscuits and gochujang-garlic buns, and demonstrating his skill by hand painting scenes based on the work of Japanese artist Hokusai. He’s spoken about being inspired by his heritage, noting he’s “super-proud of his fusion roots,” nodding to his Indian Mother and Japanese-Belgian father.
Below are some of the Eater staff’s favorite bits of commentary from various corners of the internet praising Dylan for being not only talented, but also hot and fashionable. Thank you, Dylan, for your service.
i’m increasingly convinced that GBBO has perhaps never had a contestant with a higher skill to facecard ratio than Dylan pic.twitter.com/rzl4nc1anT
— Kate Halliwell (@katehalliwell) October 12, 2024
I mean….. . . . #hunger #hungry #bored #britishbakeoff #bakeoff #creatorsearchinsights
he looks like handsome like if a cat got granted a wish to be human https://t.co/UXZs8mHe2k
— indie (@INDIEWASHERE) October 15, 2024
Absolutely obsessed with the chic film-inspired looks Dylan is consistently serving on Bake Off. Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean last week, and now Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins tonight. What’s next? #GBBO pic.twitter.com/WVLcxnPGS0
— Hannah Cowton-Barnes (@TheLondonGeek) October 15, 2024
THIS MAN IS too FOIIIIIINE it’s bloody illegal! #GreatBritishBakeOff #ImJustAGirl #Dylan #Funny #GBBO2024
this is really niche but dylan looks like he’s a sim / he’d be really easy to make in the sims 4 #gbbo pic.twitter.com/7gkQxBKPtG
— brad (@natesaway) October 1, 2024
