The Great British Bake Off is Back!

We Brits love a good bake, and we also love a TV show that we can get hooked on and spend the rest of the week talking about. This is why every Autumn the aprons are dusted off and the baking trays greased as The Great British Bake Off returns to our screens. For a 10 week period contestants are chosen to undertake challenges related to a specific baking theme that push their skills to the limit. The judges then inspect and sample the baking, and every week one contestant is crowned Star Baker and another eliminated from the famous tent.

In 2016 The Great British Bake Off moved from BBC 1 to Channel 4. With it came the departure of the beloved Mary Berry who judged the show alongside Paul Hollywood for 7 years since it began, and author/restaurateur Prue Leith stepped into her shoes to scrutinise the contestant’s signature, technical and showstopper bakes. With the new channel also brought new hosts, with Sandi and Noel replacing Mel and Sue as the comical duo of presenters.  

This year features the youngest line up ever for the show. Last week explored Bread Week, in which the bakers had to create a tear and share bread for the signature bake, a burger bun for the technical challenge and finally a themed loaf showstopper.

This week is dairy week, and we can’t wait to see what the contestants create.

Here are some of our favourite ever showstoppers over the years:

Nancy, the winner of series 5, produced this Moulin Rouge themed cake complete with brandy snap red windmill.

Paul from series 6 created this lion from three different types of bread.

Candice’s peacock showstopper from series 7 stole the show.

Nadiya, the season 6 winner, produced this gravity defying masterpiece.

Image source: Google

The show is loved for its witty comedy, wild and creative ideas and scrumptious looking treats. We challenge you to resist delving into the cupboards for a snack whilst watching.

Fun facts about The Great British Bake Off:

• If you are a fan of the show, you will know that each bake is displayed to viewers as a drawing. These illustrations come from the extremely talented Tom Hovey, and you can look at some of his creations here.

• Once the bakers have had a taste of their creations, the cast and crew get to enjoy the leftovers.
• A simple Victoria sponge is baked in every oven each day to ensure no technical faults will hinder the baking.
• The Great British Bake Off is filmed inside the famous white tent in the grounds of Welford Park, Berkshire.
• And who washes up? Home economist Iva Vcelak has the glorious task of washing up, along with a bit of help. She goes through over 1,000 cloths and 30 litres of washing up liquid!

To get into the Bake Off spirit, we at Teviotdale Mills have been baking our own bread. Presenting our banana loaf:

We think Paul Hollywood himself would approve, don’t you think?

So, who gets to have their cake and eat it? The Great British Bake Off airs Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 4.