Baking has again become a hot topic of conversation over the last few weeks as millions of people tuned into the Great British Bake Off. 

The Bake Off, now in its sixth series, has perfected its ingredients over the last few years and now has viewers hooked. 

There’s excitement, drama, tension, wit, failure and triumph, as well as baking, packed into an hour of hunger-inducing TV. 

Last year the season finale was the third most popular TV programme after two World Cup football matches. 

Last night’s finale will probably also rank as one of the most watched shows this year. 

But what is it about the Bake Off that people love so much? Why do people tune in week after week and talk about it so much online? 

Peter Sidwell, owner of Simply Good Cookery School at Rheged, where he is also executive chef, says part of the show’s success is down to the fact that people engage with the show so much online on social media sites, but there’s more to it than that. 

He explains: “There’s this real big nostalgic love for baking at the moment. It’s stuck around for a good few years now and I think it’s here to stay.” 

One of the appeals of baking is that pretty much everyone can have a go. Because the Bake Off stars are not professionals, there’s also the thought that you could be as good as them. 

Mr Sidwell, who is also a TV chef and judge on ITV’s Britain’s Best Bakery, explains: “I think it’s a lovely thing to be able to do with your kids and it doesn’t really matter if it’s not the perfect masterpiece, it’s about getting stuck into doing something together at home and creating something. 

“I know that when my daughter does it and succeeds, it gives her a real confidence boost. I think it’s something that you can build up and build up and they’re great life skills.” 

A number of baking and cooking courses run at the Simply Good Cookery School including masterclasses in pastry, chocolate and seafood and classes in winter baking, sausage making, Italian cooking, sushi and breads – healthy, Great British and Italian. 

The classes are only on for one day and last for three to seven hours.

A real mix of people take part in the course days from recently retired men to young mums, people who have been cooking and baking for years to beginners. 

Mr Sidwell says: “What we try to do in the cookery school, we try to give people confidence and technique and then empower them to go and start to combine flavours.” 

He adds that baking has always had a strong heritage in Britain. 

It would be hard for the Bake Off to look more British with its bunting and tent, which evokes the feel of a country show. 

“I think globally, Brits have not had a great food reputation,” says Mr Sidwell, “but I would argue now that we are one of the most exciting food countries in the world now because we’re so eclectic and we’re a small enough nation to be able to get hold of all the local produce right across the country. 

“We’re quite proud of our baking heritage and we’re quite good at it as a nation and we’ve not had that from many other food backgrounds. 

"We’ve had a bit of a rough ride I think – that’s probably why we love it. It’s that comforting thing, it’s very comforting and warming and it evokes memories of grandmas and grandads, mums and dads.” 

Although Mr Sidwell said he has not had much time to watch the Bake Off because he’s been so busy developing his new app, Simply Good Food TV, which is like an iPlayer but just for food, he thought travel photographer Ian Cummings could win it. 

He says: “I think he’s quite cool and calm whereas the other two are a bit more emotional and I think in the final, you need to be pretty cool and calm.” 

For Mr Sidwell, as for many of the Bake Off stars, baking is a passion that he has enjoyed all his life. 

“I’m so privileged that my job is my hobby,” he says, “I find my job is really, really exciting and what better thing that to get to taste what you made at the end of it. 

"Some people make things and put them in a box and send them off and never really get to play with it whereas I get to play with it, taste it, make sure it’s exactly how I want it to be and then off it goes.” 

For more information on the courses held at the Simply Good Cookery School, visit www.simplygoodtaste.co.uk/cookery-school