If you didn’t already know, the "The Great British Bake Off "(or "The Great British Baking Show" as it’s called in America) is a televised competition in which 12 (or 10 in the first season) amateur bakers compete over the course of 10 weeks to be crowned the winner. Each episode centers around a single type of baked good, and the contestants have to show off their skills by completing three challenges on site — a signature bake (in which the contestants put a unique twist on a classic), a technical challenge (where they are all given the same recipe, a recipe that they are not told about until the start of the challenge), and a showstopper challenge (where they have to create something aesthetically marvelous). I don’t normally like contest shows, but "The Great British Bake Off" is different. Here are ten reasons why.

1. Everyone is super British

Since everyone from the contestants to the judges is British, they all have super cool accents, and you get to learn culinary Britishisms, like the fact that British people use the word “prove” instead of “rise” (in reference to bread) or the alternative British pronunciation of “scone.”

2. The show is basically food porn

The contestants may be amateurs, but they certainly know how to make snazzy and delicious-looking treats that are sure to have your mouth watering.

3. Mel and Sue’s top-notch food puns

Presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins (who, unfortunately, just announced that they are leaving after this season) always have the best puns and jokes, which are just the icing on the cake, so to speak.

4. Mel and Sue’s innuendos

Sue always seems to be hitting on the male contestants, and Mel has her fair share of dirty jokes too.

5. You get to learn cool facts about the history of food

In the show’s first season, each episode was set in a different location in Britain that somehow pertained to the episode’s food item, and Mel and Sue would each go off and explore the history of that week’s food item. Over the course of the season, they unearthed some pretty neat facts. The image above shows the original recipe for Queen Victoria's wedding cake along with some cake remnants.

6. Mary’s sweet tooth

It is well-known that judge Mary Berry has quite a sweet tooth, so the contestants will often attempt to appease her by making extra sugary treats that just look all the more appetizing.

7. Paul’s seriousness

Judge Paul Hollywood is probably the most serious character on the show, but that certainly does not make him boring or cruel. His criticisms and advice are just how he shows his extreme passion for baking.

8. Exciting competition

The competitive nature of the show makes it suspenseful or scary when one of your favorite contestants is having a bad week, and thrilling when they have an excellent one.

9. Despite the fact that it’s a competition, everyone is really supportive of one another

On most American contest shows, everyone treats everyone else horribly — judges make value judgements about contestants’ personhood based on a single performance, and contestants tear each other down. That is just not the case on "The Great British Bake Off." You always get the impression that the contestants, presenters, and judges are like family for those ten weeks, criticism is given lovingly, and there is always lots of hugging and crying at the end of each episode when it’s announced who must leave.

10. It will inspire you to bake

The fact that these are amateur bakers with jobs and families outside of baking makes their talent seem accessible. Also, watching people make delicious food can make you hungry with a hunger that can only be cured by homemade cupcakes or something.