Bake Off: When Does The Fun Begin?

The Great British Bake Off is a British television baking competition, in which amateur bakers compete against each other in a series of rounds, attempting to impress two judges with their baking skills. The show is presented by Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond, and judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The first episode aired on 17 August 2010, and the show has since been renewed through its fifteenth series. The latest series began airing on 26 September 2023, and the final will air on 28 November 2023.

When does the new season start?

The new season of The Great British Bake Off started on Tuesday 26th September 2023 and aired every Tuesday at 8 pm on Channel 4. The final aired on Tuesday 28th November at 8 pm.

The show is usually renewed annually, and the next season is expected to start in late September 2024.

The Great British Bake Off is a British television baking competition that airs weekly and follows a group of amateur bakers as they attempt to impress the judges with their baking skills. The show is judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, and the fourteenth season was hosted by Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.

The show is famous for its iconic white tent and is filmed in the grounds of the Welford Park Estate in Berkshire.

Who are the judges?

The fourteenth series of The Great British Bake Off, which began on 26 September 2023, sees the return of Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith as judges.

Hollywood, the son of a baker, has been a judge on the show since 2010. He trained as a sculptor but was persuaded by his father to change careers. He established himself in the baking world and worked at some of the most exclusive hotels, including the Dorchester in London. Before joining 'Bake Off', Hollywood published his best-selling book, '100 Great Breads', and presented the solo series 'Bread', where he revealed his bread-making secrets from around the world. He has also published several other books, including British Baking and Weekend Baker.

Leith, who replaced Mary Berry when the show moved from BBC to Channel 4 in 2017, is known to be one of the country's foremost culinary experts. She has had a career as a restaurateur, caterer, food teacher, food writer, novelist, television cook, and a radio cook on the Today programme. Leith set up her own cookery school, with notable students including Diana Henry, Lorraine Pascale, and Gizzi Erskine. She has also published 12 cookbooks, seven novels, and a biography called 'Relish: My Life on a Plate'. Before joining 'Bake Off', Leith was a judge on the BBC's 'Great British Menu' and My Kitchen Rules on Channel 4.

Who are the hosts?

The hosts of the fourteenth season of The Great British Bake Off are Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.

Fielding is a longstanding presenter of the show, having joined in 2017. He replaced Sandi Toksvig, who presented the show for three years.

Hammond, on the other hand, is a new addition to the show, replacing Matt Lucas at the end of 2022. She is a British television personality, actress, and comedian. She first rose to fame as a contestant on the British reality show Big Brother in 2002. Since then, she has gone on to host ITV's daytime television show This Morning and has appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and Celebrity MasterChef.

Hammond is also the show's first-ever Black host and the first person of colour to host in its 13-year run.

Who are the contestants?

The fourteenth series of The Great British Bake Off features 12 contestants, including the show's first deaf contestant. The contestants are:

• Matty, 28, who describes his baking style as 'rustic but neat'
• Dan, 42, a self-described 'perfectionist' who loves a challenging bake
• Josh, 27, a chemist who uses his scientific skills in the kitchen
• Amos, 43, a hospitality professional who compares his baking style to the converted church he lives in: 'traditional with a modern twist'
• Keith, 60, who has recently tried recipes that were once 'beyond' him
• Abbi, 27, who gets her baking inspiration from the great outdoors
• Nicky, 52, who bakes pastries, breads and fun birthday cakes for her niece and grandchildren
• Rowan, 21, who is known for wowing his uni friends with showstopping cakes
• Dana, 25, a self-professed 'untidy baker' who loves a semi-naked cake with neat lines and minimalist decoration
• Saku, 50, who brings her Sri Lankan flavours to her baking
• Cristy, 33, a mum-of-four who draws inspiration from her Israeli heritage and her husband's Jamaican roots
• Tasha, 27, who describes her baking style as 'fearless' and loves to challenge herself with 'near-impossible designs'

What are the themes?

The Great British Bake Off is known for its creative and challenging themes, and the 2023 season was no exception. The bakers were put to the test with a variety of delicious and intricate challenges.

The season kicked off with the classic "Cake Week", where the bakers crafted vertical layer cakes, iconic chocolate cakes, and sponge showstoppers with a menagerie of animals. This was followed by "Biscuit Week", where they created marshmallow biscuits, custard creams, and illusion-themed showstoppers.

As the competition progressed, the themes became more complex and diverse. "Chocolate Week" challenged the bakers to create tortes, mini caramelised white chocolate cheesecakes, and a chocolate box showstopper. "Pastry Week" featured savoury picnic pies, a technical challenge of a dauphinoise potato and caramelised onion pithivier, and decorative sweet pies.

The bakers also explored botanical-inspired creations in "Botanical Week", with spicy signatures, herby technicals, and floral showstoppers. "Dessert Week" saw retro crème caramel, treacle sponge, and meringue bomb masterpieces.

One of the most anticipated themes was "Party Cakes Week", a new addition to the show. The bakers impressed the judges with their unique creations. The season also included the classic "Bread Week" and "Patisserie Week", where the contestants crafted elegant French pastries, buttery classics, and Italian celebration cakes.

Throughout the competition, the bakers showcased their skills, creativity, and attention to detail. These themes provided a platform for the contestants to express their individuality and push the boundaries of baking, making the 2023 season of The Great British Bake Off a mouth-watering and exciting watch.

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