Everything you need to know about The Great British Bake Off
The 2024 series is coming soon!
With the dark nights slowly starting to creep in, it's nearly time for The Great British Bake Off to be back on our screens, as a whole host of budding bakers attempt to impress Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
After Matty Egdell won the 2023 series, fans are holding out for any information regarding this year's show, which is due to begin sometime in September. Here's everything we know so far...
When does Bake Off start?
There's been no official start date for the 2024 series just yet, but Bake Off does usually begin towards the end of September.
The 2023 series started on Tuesday 26th September.
Is there a trailer?
No trailers have been released at this moment.
Who is taking part?
This year's cast haven't yet been announced.
Who won Bake Off last year?
After a tense final, Matty Edgell from Peterborough was crowned the 2023 winner!
When is the Bake Off final?
It's not yet been announced when the 2024 final will air.
The final for the 2023 series took place on Tuesday 28th November.
Who is hosting Bake Off this year?
Months after Matt Lucas revealed he'd be leaving Bake Off due to work commitments, bosses announced This Morning host Alison Hammond would be replacing him.
Announcing the news on Friday 17th March last year, GBBO posted on social media: '🍞BAKING NEWS 🍞 We’re delighted to announce that Alison Hammond will be joining forces with Noel Fielding to host the next series of The Great British Bake Off on @Channel4 later this year. We cannot wait! #GBBO'. (sic)
Alison also shared the news with her own followers, sharing a video of the amazing Bake Off cake, featuring herself and Noel, and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
She wrote: 'It’s OFFICIAL!!! It’s happening The Great British Bake off ! Let’s have it ! The cake that is 😂#GBBO 2023 @britishbakeoff @noel_fielding @prueleith @channel4 @paul.hollywood'. (sic)
Alison hosted the show alongside Noel Fielding and fans loved her, and she's back again this year!
Why did Matt Lucas leave Bake Off?
On 7th December 2022, Matt announced the news he'd be leaving his presenting role on The Great British Bake Off, following three amazing years alongside Noel Fielding.
He wrote: '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.
'I would like to give my warmest thanks and gratitude to everyone at Love Productions and Channel 4 and to Noelipops, Paul, Dame Prue, the crew and, of course, the wonderful bakers for welcoming me into the tent.
'I wish whoever takes over the very best and I can't wait to tune into the next series without already knowing who won!' (sic)
What channel is Bake Off on?
The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4, with episodes also available to watch on All 4.
What time is Bake Off on?
The series airs at 8pm.
Who are the judges on Bake Off?
The legends that are Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are set to return for the 2024 series, casting their eye over this year's bakers and deciding the results each week!
Who has won Bake Off in the past?
There's so far been 14 winners of The Great British Bake Off. Edd Kimber won series one back in 2010, with Matty Egdell winning the show in 2023.
Series 1: Edd Kimber
Series 2: Joanne Wheatley
Series 3: John Whaite
Series 4: Frances Quinn
Series 5: Nancy Birtwhistle
Series 6: Nadiya Hussain
Series 7: Candice Brown
Series 8: Sophie Faldo
Series 9: Rahul Mandal
Series 10: David Atherton
Series 11: Peter Sawkins
Series 12: Giuseppe Dell'Anno
Series 13: Syabira Yusoff
Series 14: Matty Edgell
Facts about The Great British Bake Off:
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.
What happens to the left over food on Bake Off?
Don't panic, food certainly does not get wasted on Bake Off! Any food then left over goes to crew members, with series four contestant Ali telling Birmingham Mail: "The cameramen literally stand there with forks in their back pockets, waiting to swoop as soon as filming stops."
Bake Off's Chief Home Economist Faenia Moore also told BBC Good Food: "It’s important for the bakers to eat what they’ve slaved over, so after each challenge I make up a 'baker’s basket' to go to their lunchroom."
How can I apply for Bake Off?
Applications for series 15 of Bake Off are now closed. Aspiring bakers were being urged to apply online.
Applications closed at 1pm on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.
Now read:
Your ultimate recap of The Great British Bake Off 2023
The Great British Bake Off: 17 things you didn't know about the hit series
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