The Great British Bake Off series 2

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Contents

The Great British Bake Off
Series 2
Presented by Mel Giedroyc
Sue Perkins
Judges Mary Berry
Paul Hollywood
WinnerJo Wheatley
Runners-upHolly Bell
Mary-Anne Boermans
Location Valentines Mansion, Redbridge
No. of max. bakes24
No. of episodes8
Release
Original network BBC Two
Original release14 August (2011-08-14) –
4 October 2011 (2011-10-04)
Series chronology
← Previous
Series 1
Next →
Series 3

The second series of The Great British Bake Off started 14 August 2011 with twelve amateur bakers. Unlike series one, the competition was held in a single location – the grounds of Valentines Mansion, a 17th-century mansion house in Redbridge. [1] In addition to their on-screen presenting, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins also took over the narration, which had been done by Stephen Noonan for the previous series. Series two also introduced the "star baker" award for the most impressive performer each week.

Three and a half thousand people applied for the competition, and twelve were selected. Each episode was filmed over two fourteen-hour days. [2] [ unreliable source ] The competition was won by Jo Wheatley. [3]

Bakers

ContestantAgeHometownOccupationFinishPlace
Keith Batsford31 Arlesey, England House husbandEpisode 112
Simon Blackwell31 Norfolk, EnglandRugby CoachEpisode 211
Ian Vallance40 Dunstable, EnglandFundraiser for English Heritage Episode 310-9
Urvashi Roe40 Enfield, EnglandHead of Marketing
Ben Frazer31 Northampton, EnglandGraphic DesignerEpisode 48
Jason White19 Croydon, EnglandCivil Engineering StudentEpisode 57-6
Robert Billington25 London, EnglandPhotographer
Yasmin Limbert43 West Kirby, EnglandChildminderEpisode 65
Janet Basu63 Formby, EnglandTeacher of Modern LanguagesEpisode 74
Holly Bell31 Leicester, EnglandAdvertising executiveEpisode 83-2
Mary-Anne Boermans45 Kidderminster, EnglandHousewife
Joanne "Jo" Wheatley 41 Ongar, EnglandHousewife1

Results summary

Elimination chart
Baker1234567 8
JoHIGHLOWSAFESAFESAFESBHIGHWINNER
HollySBSAFESAFESBSAFELOWHIGHRunner-up
Mary-AnneSAFESAFEHIGHHIGHHIGHHIGHLOW
JanetSAFESAFELOWSAFESBHIGHOUT
YasminSAFESAFESBLOWLOWOUT
JasonSAFESBSAFESBOUT
RobertLOWLOWLOWSAFEOUT
BenSAFESAFESAFEOUT
IanSAFEHIGHOUT
UrvashiSAFESAFEOUT
SimonLOWOUT
KeithOUT

[1] There was no Star Baker this week, as Paul and Mary felt it wouldn't be right to single out one baker when the results were incredibly close.

Colour key:

  Baker got through to the next round.
  Baker was eliminated.
  Baker was one of the judges' least favourite bakers that week, but was not eliminated.
  Baker was the Star Baker.
  Baker was one of the judges' favourite bakers that week, but did not win star baker.
  Baker was the series runner-up.
  Baker was the series winner.

Episodes

Episode 1: Cakes

For their first challenge, the bakers were asked to bake 24 cupcakes in 2 hours. They were allowed to make two different types of cupcakes. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a Coffee and Walnut Battenburg cake using Mary Berry's recipe in 2 hours. The cake needed to have the perfect sponge which held its form (perfect symmetry), distinguish flavours, and a smooth exterior. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake a chocolate tiered celebration cake with elaborate, multi-layer design in 5 hours.

    Episode 2: Tarts

    For the signature bake, the bakers were asked to bake a savoury quiche in 2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a Tarte au Citron using Mary Berry's recipe in 1+1⁄2 hours. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake 24 mini sweet tartlets of two different flavour combinations.

    Episode 3: Bread

    For their signature bake, the bakers were asked to bake a free form flavored loaf (not using a tin) in 3+1⁄4 hours. The technical challenge gave the bakers 3+1⁄2 hours to bake a Focaccia, using Paul Hollywood's recipe. The showstopper required the bakers to produce a 2 part display: a basket made of bread, then filled with 24 rolls, 12 sweet and 12 savory, in 5 hours.

    In this episode, two bakers were eliminated rather than one baker.

    Episode 4: Biscuits

    For the signature bake, the bakers were give 1+1⁄2 hours to make 12 biscuits of their choice; the biscuits should not be too soft, too hard or too crumbly. The technical challenge gave the bakers 1+1⁄2 hours to bake 24 brandy snaps. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to produce a macaron display, consisting of 120 macarons (60 pairs) in 3 different flavors; they had 5 hours to complete it.

    Episode 5: Pies

    The signature challenge asked the bakers to produce a hearty family pie using either a rough puff or flaky pastry, in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a batch of 6 miniature pork pies (using a hot water crust pastry) in 2+1⁄2 hours, using Paul Hollywood's recipe. It was a 2-day bake challenge — to give the filling time to set overnight the pies were judged the next day. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake a meringue pie — a fruit and/or custard pie topped with meringue — in 3+1⁄2 hours.

    Once again, in this episode, two bakers were eliminated instead of one baker.

    Episode 6: Desserts (Quarterfinals)

    For their signature bake, the quarterfinalists were tasked to produce a cheesecake in 21⁄2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a chocolate roulade in 1+3⁄4 hours using Mary Berry's recipe. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to create a Croquembouche-inspired bake in 5 hours.

    Episode 7: Pâtisserie (Semi-final)

    For the signature bake, the semi-finalists were given 2 hours to bake a layered mousse cake, with the judges seeking a light sponge and a rich mousse. In the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake 12 identical Iced Fingers to be filled with cream and jam, using Paul Hollywood's recipe. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to produce a selection of three different pastries using the same laminated pastry dough — which must be crisp on the outside and soft on the inside — for all three.

    1. ↑ In this episode, none of the bakers were individually highlighted as Star Baker, as the judges decided all four deserved commendation for reaching the semi-final.

    Episode 8: Final

    For their final signature bake, the finalists were asked to bake 12 mille-feuille in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a sachertorte in 2 hours and 40 minutes. For their final showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake 3 different types of petits fours: meringue, sweet pastry, and sponge-based, on the theme of British Summertime, within 4 hours.

    Extras and special episodes

    Both episodes nine and ten were masterclasses by Paul and Mary, where they demonstrated how to make the Technical Challenges that they had set throughout the series. Episode nine showed the first four of the series; Coffee and walnut Battenberg, Tarte au Citron, Focaccia and Brandy Snaps. Episode ten showed the last four of the series; Pork pies, Chocolate roulade, Iced fingers and Sachertorte. Episode eleven went back and revisited the bakers from series one to catch up with the contestants.

    Post-show career

    Some of the contestants went on to a career in baking or had a change of career after appearing on the show.

    Joanne Wheatley has written two bestselling books on baking, A Passion for Baking published on 16 May 2013, [2] and Home Baking initially as a Sainsbury's exclusive. She writes a monthly column for Sainsbury's magazine and is a regular guest columnist for The Sun newspaper. [4] [5] She runs cookery courses from her home in Essex, [6] [7] and has appeared in various television programmes such as The Alan Titchmarsh Show and What's Cooking . [8]

    Holly Bell teaches baking classes and for a time worked as an occasional radio presenter on BBC Radio Leicester. [9] She also appeared as a guest presenter on QVC shopping channel. [10] She wrote an eBook called Ready, Steady, Bake! which was published on 5 July 2012, [11] and published a book Recipes from a Normal Mum on 17 July 2014. [12]

    Mary-Anne Boermans wrote a book on baking, Great British Bakes: Forgotten Treasures for Modern Bakers, which was published on 7 November 2013. [13]

    Ratings

    Official episode viewing figures are from BARB. [14]

    Episode
    no.    		AirdateViewers
    (millions)    		BBC Two
    weekly ranking    		Nightly ranking
    116 August 20113.1028
    223 August 20113.53
    330 August 20113.821
    46 September 20113.607
    513 September 20113.838
    620 September 20114.256
    727 September 20114.425
    84 October 20115.06

    Specials

    The Great British Bake Off Masterclass
    Episode
    no.    		AirdateViewers
    (millions)    		BBC Two
    weekly ranking
    16 October 20112.326
    213 October 20112.149
    The Great British Bake Off Revisited
    Episode
    no.    		AirdateViewers
    (millions)    		BBC Two
    weekly ranking
    20 October 2011——

    References

    1. ↑ "Valentines Mansion proves to be the perfect setting for TV show". Redbridge i. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012.
    2. 1 2 "Edd Kimber and Jo Wheatley: Great British Bake Off changed our lives". Metro. 28 August 2012.
    3. ↑ "Joanne Wheatley recipes – BBC Food". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
    4. ↑ "Home Baking [Sainsbury's Exclusive]". Sainsbury. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013.
    5. ↑ "Sainsbury's Magazine – February content". Exact Editions Ltd.
    6. ↑ "Jo's Blue AGA".
    7. ↑ "Great British Bake Off Winner Jo Wheatley Interview". Mojo Mums.
    8. ↑ Jess Denham (7 October 2014). "Great British Bake Off 2014: What past winners are doing now from Edd Kimber to last year's Frances Quinn" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
    9. ↑ "An interview with Holly Bell". Food Heaven. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013.
    10. ↑ "Holly Bell". Good Food Bakes and Cakes Show.
    11. ↑ "Kindle Baking Book Bargain!!". Me, Bookshelf and I.
    12. ↑ Carolyn Hart (17 July 2014), "Cookbook of the week: Recipes from a Normal Mum", The Daily Telegraph
    13. ↑ Samuel Muston (25 July 2013). "On The Menu: Lardo London; Stolichnya' Salted Karamel vodka; Mary-Anne Boermans' Great British Bakes; EatPlayLove2013; Perrier" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
    14. ↑ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 16 September 2015.
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