Jeff Foxworthy to Host “The American Baking Competition”

CBS announced recently that popular comedian Jeff Foxworthy will host the new summer reality series THE AMERICAN BAKING COMPETITION. The competition series based on the format of the hit UK show “The Great British Bake Off” premieres Wednesday, May 29 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Paul Hollywood, the star UK baker and current judge of the British series, and accomplished chef Marcela Valladolid will serve as the series' judges.

THE AMERICAN BAKING COMPETITION will feature skilled amateurs competing in baking challenges with one ultimately being crowned the winner.

Jeff Foxworthy is one of this country’s most successful comedians. A multiple Grammy Award nominee who is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, Foxworthy is also a best-selling author of more than 26 humorous books that range from children’s works to how-to guides. Foxworthy is an accomplished host/actor/producer whose unique comedic talents have graced a diverse array of TV projects, including “Foxworthy’s Big Night Out,” “Blue Collar TV,” and “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader.” Currently, Foxworthy hosts “The American Bible Challenge” and has the upcoming animated show “Bounty Hunters” set to debut this summer.

Paul Hollywood is one of the UK’s leading artisan bakers and has served as a judge on the hit UK format “The Great British Bake Off” for three seasons. The son of a baker, Hollywood established himself as a baking innovator through working in some of the most exclusive hotels in the world, including the Dorchester in London, before he cemented his reputation as the leading authority on bread-making with his book, 100 Great Breads. Hollywood’s second book, How To Bake, was published last year and was a best-seller. His new series, “Paul Hollywood’s Bread,” debuts March 2013 in the UK on the BBC.

Marcela Valladolid is an accomplished chef who specializes in the artistry of traditional Mexican cuisine. Valladolid’s passion for the culinary world began at her aunt’s cooking school in Baja, Mexico. After attending the Los Angeles Culinary Institute, she then studied at the Ritz Escoffier Cooking School in Paris to become trained as a classical French pastry chef. Valladolid successfully translated her culinary knowledge and passion to the small screen as the host of Discovery en Español’s “Relatos con Sabor,” before hosting her own Food Network series, “Mexican Made Easy,” which premiered in 2010. She also served as a food editor at Bon Appétit magazine. Wanting to share her expertise on great Mexican food that combines freshness and flavor with kitchen ease, Valladolid published FRESH MEXICO: 100 Simple Recipes for True Mexican Flavor in 2009 and Mexican Made Easy in 2011.