Junior Bake Off is a British television baking competition in which young bakers aged 9 to 12 tackle a series of challenges involving baking cakes, biscuits, bread, and pastries, competing to be crowned Junior Bake Off Champion.
The series debuted in 2011 as a spin-off from The Great British Bake Off and is also produced by Love Productions. Four series of Junior Bake Off were broadcast on CBBC from 2011 to 2016. Following its parent series' departure from the BBC in 2017, Junior Bake Off resumed with a fifth series in 2019 on Channel 4, with comedian Harry Hill as presenter and Prue Leith and Liam Charles as judges. The fifth series concluded on 22 November 2019. The show returned for a sixth series on 11 January 2021, with Ravneet Gill replacing Prue Leith. Junior Bake Off returned Monday 10 January 2022 for its seventh series and concluded on 28 January 2022. Junior Bake Off returned on 16 January 2023 for its eighth series and concluded on 3 February 2023. On 10 January it was announced that Junior Bake Off has been renewed for its eleventh series to air in 2026.[1][2][3][4]
Format
Each series of Junior Bake Off typically includes 15 episodes. While The Great British Bake Off features three challenges per episode (signature, technical, and showstopper), Junior Bake Off includes only the technical and showstopper challenges. In the first four series, aired on CBBC from 2011 to 2016, the format featured 40 young bakers aged 9 to 12 years old divided into 10 qualifying rounds or heats.[5] Each episode featured only four bakers, with one winner each episode and the other three eliminated. The winning baker from each heat were brought back for 'Finals Week' (divided into two semi-finals, followed by two finals, and then one grand final) which determined the winner.
The format was altered in 2019 when the series moved to Channel 4. The episodes were increased from 30 minutes to one hour, the number of bakers halved to 20 (16 from series 6), and the upper age range of the contestants increased from 12 to 15 (changed back to 12 from series 8[6]).[7] Instead of only four bakers taking part in each qualifying round, the bakers are divided into two groups of 10 each, with five eliminated from one group during the first five episodes, and five eliminated from the second group during the second five episodes.[8] The remaining five bakers from each group are combined in the week-long finals, resulting in quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.[9] The 'Star Baker' award, given to the judges' favourite baker in each episode, was not included in the CBBC version of the show but is a part of the Channel 4 format.
The fourth series began on 7 November 2016 on CBBC.[13]Allegra McEvedy returns as judge with Nadiya Hussain replacing Graham Hornigold. Presenters Sam & Mark returned to host.
The seventh series originally aired on 10–28 January 2022 on Channel 4, with 16 contestants competing to be crowned the winner of the seventh series. Comedian Harry Hill and bakers Liam Charles and Ravneet Gill returned as host and judges respectively. From episodes 1–3, Paul Hollywood stood in for Charles.[17] The bakers were divided into two groups of 8, with four eliminated from each group over five days of competition. The remaining four bakers from each group were combined in the week-long finals, culminating in a "super-difficult showdown" episode that determined the winner.[18] Kezia won the 2022 series.[19][non-primary source needed]
The eighth series of Junior Bake Off began airing on 16 January 2023 on Channel 4. For the fourth series in a row, Harry Hill presented the series, which was judged by Ravneet Gill and Liam Charles. Amelia won the competition and Thomas, Mya and Annabel B were runners up.
The ninth series of Junior Bake Off began airing on 2 January 2024 on Channel 4. For the fifth series in a row, Harry Hill presented the series, which was judged by Ravneet Gill and Liam Charles. Tilly won the competition and Max, Annabelle and Ilham were runners up.
The tenth series of Junior Bake Off began airing on 6 January 2025 and ended on 24 January 2025 on Channel 4. For the sixth series in a row, Harry Hill presented the series, with returning judges Ravneet Gill and Liam Charles. Austin won the competition and Lola, Ronnie and Deji were runners up.
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