The series was won by David Atherton, who became the first winner never to have won the Star Baker title since it was introduced. Alice Fevronia and Steph Blackwell finished as runners-up.[3] This series started with 13 bakers instead of the usual 12, which meant one episode featured a double elimination, as was previously done in the fourth series.[4]
Baker was one of the judges' least favourite bakers that week, but was not eliminated.
Baker was one of the judges' favourite bakers that week, but was not the Star Baker.
Baker got through to the next round.
Baker was eliminated.
Baker was the Star Baker.
Baker was a series runner-up.
Baker was the series winner.
Episodes
Episode 1: Cake
For the signature challenge, the bakers had to bake a fruit cake in the shape of their choice, with a significant amount of dried fruit, and lavish decoration in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the technical challenge set by Prue, the bakers had to bake six identical angel cake slices, with layers made of genoise sponge sandwiched with Italian meringue buttercream, topped with icing and feathered in 1+3⁄4 hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers baked the birthday cake they always dreamed of as a child in four hours.
For the signature challenge this week, the bakers were tasked to make twelve decorated chocolate biscuit bars in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the technical challenge, Paul tasked a "controversial" bake that was his dad's favourite—twelve fig rolls which were identical in shape and size—in ninety minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to create a 3D biscuit sculpture in four hours.
For this week's signature challenge, the bakers were asked to make a filled tear & share loaf from a yeasted dough in three hours. Paul's technical challenge required the bakers to make eight burgerbaps along with four veggie burgers to go inside half of them in over two hours. The showstopper challenge required the bakers to make a display of artistically scored decorative loaves (minimum of two loaves) in five hours.
Baker
Signature (Tear & Share Loaf)
Technical (8 White Burger Baps & 4 Veggie Burgers)
For the signature challenge this week, Paul and Prue tasked the bakers with a Dairy Cake, but the cake mixture needed to contain a cultured dairy product, to be done in two hours and fifteen minutes. For the technical challenge, Prue asked the bakers to make a difficult bake that dated back to the Tudor times, twelve Maids of Honours, in two hours. For the showstopper challenge, the judges gave the bakers the task of making a display of milk-based Indian sweets known as Mishti, in 3+1⁄2 hours.
For the signature challenge, the bakers had 2+1⁄2 hours to produce four custard pies which should be elaborately decorated with the theme of the 1920s. For the technical challenge set by Prue, the bakers faced the difficult task of deep-frying Choux pastry to produce eighteen Beignet soufflés filled with raspberry jam and served with a zabaglione, in 1+1⁄2 hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were asked to create a cocktail theme cake, with at least two tiers, in memory of the prohibition era in the United States, in four hours.
For the signature challenge this week, the bakers were asked to make a layered meringue cake with a minimum of three layers and "large enough to share with friends" in two hours, forty-five minutes. For the technical challenge, Prue gave the bakers a particularly difficult task that tested the bakers' precision, six identical layered Verrines, in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were tasked with an explosive bake, a Celebratory Bombe, in 4+1⁄2 hours.
For the signature challenge, the bakers were asked to make twenty-four buns with the theme of a festival or holiday from around the world in three hours. For the technical challenge, Paul tasked the bakers with a deep fried pastry treat traditionally served during the Italian Carnevale, twelve Sicilian Cassatelles, in one hour, fifteen minutes. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were set with the complex task of making a kek lapis Sarawak, a traditional layered Malaysian cake, in four hours, fifteen minutes.
For the signature challenge, the bakers were tasked to do a savoury twist on a usually sweet French classic, Tarte Tatin, in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were given the challenging task of recreating a Moroccan Pie made from warka pastry, also known as brik pastry, in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were asked to create a vertical pie consisting of at least two separate pies in four hours.
Shallot, Aubergine & Goat's Cheese Spiced Tarte Tatin
2nd
Rapunzel's Tower
Safe
Steph
Caramelised Onion & Goat's Cheese Tarte Tatin
4th
Curried Chickpea & Potato Carousel Pie
Star Baker
Episode 9: Pâtisserie (Semifinal)
For the signature challenge, the bakers had 2+1⁄2 hours to make eight identically decorated domed tarts. Prue's technical challenge was making a Gâteau Saint Honoré, a French classic involving both choux and puff pastry, plus a large amount of cream fillings, all in 3+1⁄2 hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were given the difficult task of making a sugar glass display case, enclosing a display of pâtisserie or other lavish baked goods, in 4+1⁄2 hours.
For the final signature challenge, the remaining three bakers were given two hours to create the ultimate chocolate cake, that should be rich in chocolate and be beautifully decorated. For the final technical challenge, set by Paul, the bakers were given one hour, ten minutes to create six twice-baked StiltonSoufflés, each served with a lavash cracker. For the final showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to create a deceptive illusion picnic basket feast composed of cakes, biscuits and enriched breads that were presented to look like something else, in 4+1⁄2 hours. Unofficially, Alice could be considered the first runner up as Prue and Paul said it was between the two of them at the end.
Two festive specials were commissioned during Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The Great Christmas Bake Off
The Great Christmas Bake Off featured Briony Williams and Terry Hartill from Series 9, along with Tom Hetherington and Yan Tsou from Series 8. The special was won by Briony Williams.[19]
The returning bakers were first asked to make 24 festive cake pops in the signature challenge. They then faced the technical challenge set by Paul, where they had to recreate a festive sausage roll wreath. For the festive showstopper challenge, the bakers were given the task of constructing a 3D gingerbread building, topped off with at least two different types of confectionery.
The Great Festive Bake Off saw the cast of Derry Girls (Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Dylan Llewellyn and Siobhan McSweeney) take on the three challenges on New Years Day.
David Atherton published a cookbook after winning the series.[20][21] Released in 2020, it is a children's cookbook titled My First Cookbook. Follow-up versions My First Green Cookbook and Bake, Make and Learn to Cook released in 2021.[22] In May 2021, Atherton released Good to Eat, which focuses on delivering healthy twists to classic recipes.[23]
Steph Blackwell contributed to The Big Book of Amazing Cakes, and published her own cookbook, The Joy of Baking, in 2021.[24][25]
Ratings
The first episode drew an overnight audience of 5.7 million, down 400,000 from the previous series, but with a higher audience share in its time slot than the previous launch at 30.6%.[26][27] The overnight ratings for the final episode dropped by over half a million compared to the previous series with an average audience of 6.9 million viewers.[28]
Michael Hogan of The Daily Telegraph criticised the series as "forgettable" and "dullest" out of the first ten series so far, attributing the show's move to Channel 4, casting "blandly millennial crop of contestants", and lack of diversity at the end, e.g. fewer contestants older than forty this series compared to prior nine series—two who were eliminated by the fifth week of the series. He further wrote:[30]
The final six were all white and middle-class. Three of the four semi-finalists were, uncannily, aged 28. Many viewers own cookbooks older than that.[30]
^ abHogan, Michael (16 September 2020). "Channel 4 is risking another bland Bake Off with this cookie cutter line-up". Telegraph.co.uk. ProQuest2443211907.
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