The Daily Stream: Junior Baking Show Is The Great British Baking Show With Adorable Children

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Series: "Junior Baking Show"

Where You Can Stream It: Netflix

The Pitch: Do you love "The Great British Baking Show," or "The Great British Bake Off" as it's called in the UK? Do you like adorable children who try very hard and help each other? Are you in need of a very warm hug from your viewing screen? "Junior Baking Show" may have the most generic name, but it's just a kid's version of the most soothing show on the planet. 

The series is called "Junior Bake Off" in the UK and is a baking competition for kids aged 9-15. With a brand new season of "The Great British Baking Show" coming to Netflix later this month, it seemed the right time to shine a spotlight on this franchise version. I'll admit that I had seen the name on Netflix, but I had no idea this was related to the original. (Stupid American versions of TV titles suck.) 

In the series, groups of kids compete in two heats, with the finalists for each combining for the finale portion of the series. Unlike the adults who have three baking challenges per episode, the kids get two. First, there is the technical challenge where the bakers make something from a recipe they haven't seen, judged blind. Then they do a showstopper that goes along with the episode theme. For instance, one episode has the kids preparing a selfie version of themselves and their interests made with eclairs. Another has them create a decorative trifle with patterns on the sides of the glass bowl.

The entire thing is delightful. Like the original show, the young contestants help each other, console those who have a rough day, and mess up, just like we would. (To be fair, they're far better bakers than I'll ever be.) Even the ones who aren't technically perfect will have you rooting for them out loud. Even sweeter from my adult standpoint is the joy and encouragement from judges Liam Charles (himself a former contestant on the main show) and Ravneet Gill. There are some epic messes (that are still better than my baking) that they both somehow manage to find positives in. Though they give notes, they're always supportive and provided with a bright smile. 

The host for the single season on Netflix is comedian Harry Hill, who performs goofy skits for the time announcements. The kids don't always get his jokes, but they obviously enjoy his presence if the giggles are anything to go by. Here's hoping that Netflix decides to give us more than one season because there are seven that have already been filmed. My only note is that someone tells the kids that the five-second rule isn't a real thing. Judges shouldn't have to eat floor cake. 

There is a purity to this series and all the related spinoffs that feel very different from most reality television. The way the contestants are so willing to help each other is a reminder that not everyone in the world is awful. We could all use a little reminder like that right now.