The Great British Bake Off series 14

The fourteenth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 26 September 2023.^[1][2][3] In December 2022, Matt Lucas announced his departure from the show after three series as a co-presenter.^[4][5] In March 2023, Alison Hammond was announced as his replacement and joined Noel Fielding as co-host.^[6][7] Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith returned to judge the series.^[8][9] The bakers competing in the series were announced on 18 September 2023, and included the show’s first ever deaf contestant.^{[10][11][12][13]}

The series was won by Matty Edgell, with Dan Hunter and Josh Smalley finishing as the runners-up.^[14]

Bakers[edit]

Results summary[edit]

^[a] Tasha was ill and unable to compete during the technical and showstopper in episode 4. As a result, the judges decided that it was unfair to eliminate anyone in her absence.

Colour key:

Episodes[edit]

Episode 1: Cake[edit]

The first episode is Cake Week.^[40][41] For the first signature challenge, the bakers were given 2 hours to produce a Vertical Layer Cake made of sponge and icing. For the technical challenge, set by Paul, the bakers were tasked with making "The Great British Bake Off Cake" (the one seen in the credits each week^[42][43]) in 2 hours, comprising two layers of moist chocolate sponge covered with chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries. A 3D cake replica of an animal of the bakers' choosing was set as the showstopper; the bakers were given 4 hours, the judges expecting the bake to be mostly sponge.

Episode 2: Biscuits[edit]

In Biscuit Week the signature bake was 12 Marshmallow biscuits of whatever form in 2½ hours. In the technical challenge, set by Prue, the bakers had 1½ hours to bake 12 custard cream biscuits. The showstopper challenge gave them 4 hours to bake an Illusion Biscuit display which represented the bakers favourite meal.

Episode 3: Bread[edit]

The bakers were tasked with making their own cottage loaf in 2¾ hours for the signature challenge. For the technical challenge, set by Paul, the task was baking 8 Devonshire Splits, i.e. buns which are split in half and are filled with jam, clotted cream and strawberries, in 2½ hours. In the showstopper, the bakers were given four hours to make a sweet or savoury Plaited Centrepiece Loaf that featured two different types of flour.

Episode 4: Chocolate[edit]

A "luxurious" chocolate torte, to be made without wheat flour in 2½ hours, was set as the signature challenge. The technical challenge, set by Prue, required 6 individual-sized white chocolate and blackcurrant cheesecakes to be baked in 2 hours. For the showstopper the bakers were given 4 hours to make an "Edible Chocolate Box Cake" - an edible chocolate box with filled molded chocolates and containing a chocolate cake inside.

^1 Tasha returned home after falling ill during the technical challenge and did not participate in the showstopper. As a result, the judges decided not to eliminate anyone, and the following episode would include a double elimination.

Episode 5: Pastry[edit]

For the signature challenge, the bakers were required to produce 12 individual savoury picnic pies, made with hot water crust pastry, in 2 hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, asked the bakers to bake a Dauphinoise Pithivier, using flaky "rough puff" pastry and accompanied by a blue cheese sauce, in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The showstopper challenge tasked the bakers with making a decorative sweet pie display with a minimum of 3 pies, in 4 hours; the judges expected them to have a sweet pastry case.

Episode 6: Botanical[edit]

The signature challenge asked the bakers to make 12 individual spiced buns in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Prue's technical challenge tasked them with making a lemon and thyme drizzle cake, topped with crystallised lemon peel and thyme, in 1½ hours. The showstopper challenge required the bakers to make a floral dessert, in any style but with at least one significant baked element, and celebrating flowers in flavours and design, in 4½ hours.

Episode 7: Desserts[edit]

The signature challenge required the bakers to produce 8 crème caramels in 2¾ hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, tasked them with making 6 individual orange and ginger treacle puddings in 1½ hours. A meringue bombe with a dessert of the bakers' choice inside was set as the showstopper, to be made in 4 hours.

Episode 8: Party (Quarterfinals)[edit]

The signature challenge required the bakers to make 12 sausage rolls, using the pastry of their choice, in 2 hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, asked the bakers to make a chocolate caterpillar cake in 2½ hours.^[44] The bakers had 4½ hours to make their showstopper challenge, a colourful and decorative 'Anything But Beige' Buffet display of a mixture of sweet and savory party foods, baking at least 12 of each item.

Episode 9: Patisserie (Semifinal)[edit]

The signature challenge was for the bakers to bake two batches of 12 financiers in 2 hours. The technical challenge, set by Prue, was to make a Tarte aux Pommes with short buttery pastry, with a smooth almond frangipane and apple puree, and topped with apple slices in 2¹⁄₂ hours. The showstopper challenge asked the bakers to make a Millefoglie, an elegant pastry with buttery, flaky layers in 4 hours.

Episode 10: Final[edit]

The final signature challenge tasked the bakers with making 8 éclairs in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The final technical challenge, set by Paul, asked the bakers to make 9 lardy cake slices in 3 hours. The final showstopper challenge was for the bakers to make an elegant tiered celebration cake, inspired by their first bake in 4 and a half hours. Based on the judges’ comments during deliberations, Dan can be seen as an unofficial third place, as they said the other two were in line to win.

Specials[edit]

Two specials were commissioned for the festive season:^[45]

The Great Christmas Bake Off[edit]

The Great Christmas Bake Off featured Series 8 winner Sophie Faldo, Dan Beasley-Harling from Series 9, Amelia Le Bruin from Series 10, Linda Rayfield from Series 11, George Aristidou from Series 12, and Carole Edwards from Series 13.

For the signature challenge, the bakers had to make 12 mince pies using any pastry, with a festive filling, in 2 hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, was a tear and share cinammon snowflake bread, with an enriched dough, in 2 hours and 45 minutes. The showstopper challenge, was to bake an exquisite celebration cake based on redemption, with any style and flavours, in 4 hours.

The Great New Year Bake Off[edit]

The Great New Year Bake Off featured Mark Lutton from Series 11, Jürgen Krauss and Maggie Richardson both from Series 12, and Maxy Maligisa from Series 13.

The signature challenge was for the bakers to make 12 Religieuse with a festive theme in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, was for the bakers to make a Galette Des Rois with crisp, buttery pastry and an almond frangipane filling in two hours. The showstopper challenge was for the bakers to create an exquisite New Year’s Smash Cake that had a chocolate dome shell in 4 hours.

Ratings[edit]

The first episode of the 14th series has an overnight viewing figure of 4.3 million, a slight fall from the 4.4 million of 2022.^[46]

References[edit]