MARY Berry and Paul Hollywood have a lot to answer for.

I’m not just talking about the Great Daily Echo Bake Off, which forced me to give cake baking a go for the first time and then be ridiculed for the shape of my Victoria Sponge by our office chef.

No, all the rather unfortunate spin offs are getting my goat.

You see The Great British Bake Off has become such a phenomenal success that the producers can’t resist any vague attempt to emulate a similar format and we’ve been subjected to The Great British Sewing Bee, Hair and, worst of all, the new Big Allotment Challenge, from the BBC.

The gardening contest, which was first aired this week, aims to do for homegrowing what the Bake Off did for desserts.

But, for the less green fingered among us, this programme was horse manure from start to finish.

I do wonder what they will invent next – ironing or hoovering contests perhaps.

Or how about DIY – no that’s already been done.

I know I don’t have to watch these shows.

But I do have to get involved in the work version for the sake of office harmony.

And I’m not sure I have the time or the inclination to cultivate my own radishes in my corner of the greenhouse we call Echo Towers.

It’s time to stop the Bake Off rip offs before we’re forced to start growing carrots.

 

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