A recap of Celebrity Bake Off 2023
In aid of Stand Up To Cancer
Last updated 17th Apr 2023
The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off hit our screens between March-April this year, with bosses signing some of the biggest celebs around, including legendary Friends actor David Schwimmer, former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson, and Olympian Tom Daly OBE.
Now that the baking is over, here's a recap of the 2023 series, which raised money for Stand Up To Cancer.
When did Celeb Bake Off start?
Episode one of The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off aired at 7.45pm on Sunday 19th March.
The first episode featured Rose Matafeo, David Schwimmer, Jesy Nelson and Tom Davis.
Episode two featured AJ Odudu, Gemma Collins, Jessica Hynes and Tim Key.
Episode three featured Adele Roberts, Tom Daley, David Morrissey and Lucy Beaumont.
Episode four featured Ellie Taylor, Joe Thomas, Coleen Nolan and Paddy McGuinness.
Episode five featured Mike Wozniak, Judi Love, Jay Blades and Deborah Meaden.
When was Celeb Bake Off on TV?
Episodes aired every Sunday night at 7.45pm on Channel 4.
The opening episode kicked off on Sunday 19th March, with the series ending on Sunday 16th April.
Which celebs are took part in Bake Off?
Channel 4 bosses announced the 2023 line-up by posting snaps of this year's contestants to their social media pages.
The caption read: 'Meet the stars hitting the Bake Off Tent to raise money for a very special cause! The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off. Coming soon to @Channel4. #GBBO'. (sic)
Check out all of the celebs who took part in Bake Off below:
David Schwimmer (Episode One)
Jesy Nelson (Episode One)
Rose Matafeo (Episode One)
Tom Davis (Episode One)
Jessica Hynes (Episode Two)
AJ Odudu (Episode Two)
Gemma Collins (Episode Two)
Tim Key (Episode Two)
Tom Daley (Episode Three)
Adele Roberts (Episode Three)
Lucy Beaumont (Episode Three)
David Morrissey (Episode Three)
Ellie Taylor (Episode Four)
Paddy McGuinness (Episode Four)
Joe Thomas (Episode Four)
Coleen Nolan (Episode Four)
Mike Wozniak (Episode Five)
Judi Love (Episode Five)
Jay Blades (Episode Five)
Deborah Meaden (Episode Five)
Speaking about his reasons for taking part in the show, Friends actor David Schwimmer said: "I lost a grandmother to cancer, my daughter lost a grandmother to cancer and my sister is a cancer survivor, so it's important to me.
"I am just grateful I can help in any small way raise more awareness.
"I am here to have fun. I am here to raise money for a great charity. It's a great cause and I happen to be a massive fan of the show."
Who was Star Baker on Celeb Bake Off?
Week One:
The opening episode saw David Schwimmer, Jesy Nelson, Tom Davis and Rose Matafeo baking six savoury pies, six chocolate orange macarons, and a 3D meringue of a Celebrity disaster scene.
Following all three rounds, Friends actor David was crowned the Star Baker!
Week Two:
Week two of the show saw AJ Odudu, Gemma Collins, Jessica Hynes, Tim Key make sandwich cakes, classic tarts and they had to recreate their earliest childhood memory in choux! Jessica Hynes was crowned Star Baker!
Week Three:
The third episode featured Adele Roberts, Tom Daley, David Morrissey and Lucy Beaumont in the Bake Off tent, where they were tasked to make a quiche and bourbon biscuits. The celebs were then asked to make a cake inspired by their perfect day off.
After all three rounds, actor David Morrissey was crowned the Star Baker.
Week Four:
The fourth episode featured Ellie Taylor, Joe Thomas, Coleen Nolan and Paddy McGuinness try to impress the judges with their creations! The celebs were tasked to create biscuit sculptures inspired by their hometowns,
As well as their signature bake, the celebs attempted to create Jaffa Cakes and Cheese and Onion slices, with the Star Baker award going to Inbetweeners actor Joe Thomas.
Week Five:
The final week saw Mike Wozniak, Judi Love, Jay Blades and Deborah Meaden hit the tent, being tasked to create a cake inspired by their childhood celebrity crush or hero. Judi Love chose Jason Donvan, Mike Wozinak chose Indiana Jones, Jay Blades chose Bob Marley, and Deborah Meaden chose Noddy Holder.
Dragon's Den star Deborah was crowned the final Star Baker of the series after excelling in every round.
Trailer for Celeb Bake Off:
Bosses released a full-length trailer for the new series on Monday 6th March, showing this year's celebs getting to work in the famous tent.
The caption read: 'One tent of dreams. 20 famous faces trying to bake. Unlimited mayhem for you to devour.
'The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off. Coming soon to @Channel4. #GBBO'. (sic)
Who hosts Celeb Bake Off?
As well as Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith in the tent to judge this year's celebrities, it's understood Noel Fielding will host the celebrity special alongside Matt Lucas, who announced he'd quit after three series.
Taking to social media in December, the comedian told fans: 'Farewell Bake Off! It's been a delicious experience and I can't imagine a more fun way of spending my summers. But it's become clear to me that I can't present both Fantasy Football League and Bake Off alongside all my other projects.
'So, after three series and 51 episodes, I am cheerfully passing the baguette on to someone else.' (sic)
Although it has now been confirmed that Alison Hammond will replace him on the show, Matt did still feature in the Celebrity special.
Check out all of these Bake Off facts you didn't know:
1. Anyone can apply for Bake Off
Except professional bakers or chefs!
Applications are open to any UK resident over the age of 16. However they cannot make their main source of income from commercial baking and entrants can't have worked as a professional chef or baker at any point. Plus, applicants cannot have acquired any professional catering qualifications in the last ten years.
2. The GBBO application form is VERY LONG
It's seven pages long, asks a LOT of questions, and demands you reveal the truth about your previous successes and failures in the kitchen.
You can find it here.
3. The Great British Bake Off application process doesn’t stop there!
If they like what they see on your application form, a researcher will call you and give you a 45 minute interview over the phone.
Then, if you pass THAT test, they'll have you whip up two baked treats, bring them to London, have an interview with a producer, and go through a screen test.
Think you're done? Nope!
You then have to try out a Technical Challenge set by the GBBO judges - in front of the camera. They also ask that you bring another bake along (presumably the producers are taste testing these / big fans of cake).
If you're still in the running, you'll then be interviewed by the show's psychologist to make sure they can handle the pressure of filming.
4. GBBO filming is intense
The show is filmed over a 10-week period between April and June, with contestants spending up to 16 hours a day filming.
They manage to package up a whole session of baking into one hour, which means that a lot of it ends up on the cutting room floor.
5... but at least it’s contained to weekends
That's right, contestants only do their GBBO stuff on weekends, which means that they can keep working their normal 9-to-5 jobs in the week.
However they are picked up from their hotels at 9am each Saturday and Sunday morning, to ensure they get as much filming time in as possible.
No rest for the wicked, eh?
6. GBBO contestants don’t do the washing up themselves
There's no dishwasher on Bake Off, because the noise would disrupt filming. Instead, home economists spend 160 hours washing up everything by hand. We hope they all get given a free hand lotion each…
7. GBBO contestants pay for ingredients themselves
Yes, that's right. They only get their ingredients provided when they reach the finals - which makes things pretty expensive. Particularly as they use between 12-20 ingredients per bake.
8. A lot of people are involved in the production of GBBO
There are around 50 crew members on set - and, yes, they all get to tuck into the cakes and goodies after the judges give their verdict.
9. GBBO contestants are encouraged to become friends
Producers take all contestants out for dinner together on the first night, and they usually become good pals over time; they often stay at the same hotel, so dinners and drinks and socialising become pretty regular.
Which means that, yes, they really DO mean it when they say they're happy for the overall winner - they're pretty much all besties by that point!
10. They make more cakes than you’d ever dreamed of
They bake a Victoria Sponge in each oven every single morning of filming, to make sure everything is ship-shape and ready to go. We imagine everyone gets a bit sick of tucking into that particular type of cake come the end of filming!
11. The show is LITERALLY based on village fetes
That's right; Anna Beattie, the show's creator, really believed that village fete baking competitions would suit TV. Anna, judging by the viewing figures, was 100% correct!
12. Mel and Sue recommended Mary Berry
The duo were approached to present the show together - and they were quick to suggest that Mary Berry should be a judge back when GBBO was on BBC One. The show moved to Channel 4 in 2017 without Mary Berry.
13. It’s not a disaster if someone forgets an ingredient
In fact, producers are well and truly prepared if this happens; they have a runner on standby at a local supermarket every morning in case a contestant realises overnight that they've forgotten an ingredient.
14. Oven time is crucial
So much so that contestants aren't allowed to put anything in - or take anything out of - the oven without flagging a producer down first. They want to make sure that they have a camera on standby to film those big baking moments.
15. The Bake Off challenges are NOT surprises
If you make it through to the Bake Off finals, you will be told what the challenges are going to be - and you'll have to submit your recipes for approval. No pressure, eh?
16. Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood were off limits
Back when the show was on BBC One, they preferred to keep things professional with contestants, and wouldn't usually speak to them outside of the Bake Off tent.
17. … but Mel and Sue weren't
The duo were happy to chat to contestants away from the cameras - and Sue even said that she likes to stay in touch with them via email once the show is all over. N'aww.
You can catch up on The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off on All4.
Now read:
The Great British Bake Off: Where do the leftovers go?
The Great British Bake Off: 17 things you didn't know about the hit series
Matt Lucas QUITS as presenter of The Great British Bake Off