The Great British Bake Off series 4

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Contents

The Great British Bake Off
Series 4
The Great British Bake Off (series 4) digital release.jpg
British digital release
Starring
No. of episodes10
Release
Original network BBC Two
Original release20 August (2013-08-20) –
22 October 2013 (2013-10-22)
Series chronology
← Previous
Series 3
Next →
Series 5

The fourth series of The Great British Bake Off began airing on 20 August 2013. [1] Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins again presented the show and Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood returned as judges. [2] As with series three, the competition was held at Harptree Court in East Harptree, Somerset. [3]

13,000 amateur bakers applied to appear on the programme, and 100 were selected for screen test, with the best 60 advancing to a three-day audition. [2] From these, 13 contestants were chosen this year so the judges could eliminate two people whenever they wanted. [4]

The winner of the Great British Bake Off 2013 was Frances Quinn. [5]

The fourth series was broadcast as the second season on PBS in the United States.

Bakers

BakerAgeOccupationHometownLinks
Ali Imdad25Charity worker Saltley, Birmingham
Beca Lyne-Pirkis31Military Wives' Choir Singer Aldershot, Hampshire [6]
Christine Wallace66Director of an engraving company Didcot, Oxfordshire [7]
Deborah Manger51Dentist Peterborough [8]
Frances Quinn 31Children's Clothes Designer Market Harborough, Leicestershire [9]
Glenn Cosby37English Teacher Teignmouth, Devon [10]
Howard Middleton51Council Worker Sheffield [11]
Kimberley Wilson30Psychologist London [12]
Lucy Bellamy38Horticulturist Grimsby, Lincolnshire [13]
Mark Onley37Carpenter and Kitchen Fitter Milton Keynes
Robert Smart54Space Satellite Designer Melbourn, Cambridgeshire [14]
Ruby Tandoh 20History of Art and Philosophy Student Southend, Essex [15]
Toby Waterworth30Web Programmer Reading, Berkshire [16]

Results summary

Elimination chart
Baker12345678910
FrancesHIGHSAFEHIGHSAFESAFEHIGHSBLOWHIGHWINNER
KimberleySAFEHIGHSAFESBLOWSAFESAFEHIGHSBRunner-up
RubyLOWSBHIGHHIGHLOWSBSAFESBLOW
BecaSAFELOWSAFESAFESAFESAFEHIGHLOWOUT
ChristineSAFESAFESBSAFESBSAFELOWOUT
GlennSAFESAFESAFELOWHIGHLOWOUT
HowardHIGHSAFELOWSAFESAFEOUT
RobertSBLOWSAFELOWOUT
AliLOWSAFESAFEOUT
DeborahSAFESAFEOUT
MarkSAFELOWOUT
LucySAFEOUT
TobyOUT

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 a series runner-up
  Baker was the series winner

Episodes

Episode 1: Cakes

The bakers were given two hours to make a sandwich cake with filling of their choice for the signature challenge. For their first technical challenge, the bakers were required to bake an angel food cake using Mary Berry's recipe in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the showstopper, the challenge was to make a chocolate cake using at least two types of chocolate to decorate the cake. They were given four hours for this bake.

Episode 2: Bread

The bakers were asked to make, in two hours, thirty-six breadsticks, all made using yeast, of at least 25 cm (9.8 in) in length, and the breadsticks should be crisp and produce a good snap. For the technical challenge, the bakers have to make eight English muffins using Paul's recipe in 2+3⁄4 hours. For the final bake, an elaborately decorated loaf was set as the showstopper challenge to be completed in four hours.

Episode 3: Desserts

For their signature challenge, the bakers were asked to make a trifle of their own choice, using ladyfingers, sponge or biscuit for the base and either jam or custard for the middle layer, to be done in three hours. For their technical challenge, the bakers were required to prepare, in 1+1⁄2 hours, six floating islands using Mary Berry's recipe. For the show-stopper, the bakers were set the task of making twenty-four petit fours, twelve biscuit based, twelve sponge based, to be finished in three hours.

^A In this challenge, Deborah accidentally used Howard's custard. As a result, Howard used Deborah's custard in his trifle. This switch was revealed to Paul and Mary, who appropriately judged their custards separately in their respective trifles. The incident was dubbed Custardgate by the press.

Episode 4: Pies and Tarts

For the signature challenge the bakers are asked to bake a double-crusted fruit pie with a filling of their choice to be done in two hours. For their fourth technical challenge, the bakers were required to bake a tart that has almost a 700-year history; the egg custard tart, that needs to be done in 2 hours. For the showstopper, the challenge was to make a filo pie centerpiece using the filo pastry that they had made from scratch to be done in four hours.

Episode 5: Biscuits and Traybakes

For the signature challenge, the bakers were asked to make their favourite traybake in two hours and cut into identical pieces. Everything made as part of the traybake, however, needed to be made from scratch. In the technical challenge, the bakers needed to make eighteen tuiles using Mary Berry's recipe in 1+1⁄2 hours. Half of the tuiles needed to be shaped in the traditional manner and piped in a concentric circle, and the other half rolled up and dipped in chocolate. In the last challenge, the baker had to make a biscuit tower at least 30 cm (12 in) high, to be finished in four hours.

  1. ↑ During the Showstopper round, Frances's tower tipped over while Mel was helping her measure it.

Episode 6: Sweet Dough

In the first challenge, the bakers were required to make a sweet tea loaf using yeast, either in a tin or free form. They were given three hours for the task. For the technical challenge, the bakers baked an apricot couronne using Paul Hollywood's recipe in 2+⁄3 hours. For the showstopper, the bakers needed to make two different varieties of European sweet buns, twelve of each. The bakers were given thirty minutes to start in the first day, so a dough may be proofed overnight to be finished the following day in four hours.

Episode 7: Pastry

The bakers are challenged to bring the old fashioned suet pudding back up to date in three hours for the signature challenge. In the technical bake, the bakers are challenged to create eight perfect religieuse: choux buns topped with ganache and filled with crème patissiere then carefully balanced one on top of the other to be done in two hours. In the showstopper challenge, the bakers have four hours to make three different types of puff pastries: one must be filled, another has to be iced and the final one is of their choice.

Episode 8: Alternative Ingredients (Quarterfinals)

This week, in the quarter final, the theme for this week were bakes that were free (e.g. gluten free, dairy free). In the signature challenge, the bakers are challenged to bake a loaf that does not use traditional wheat flours, instead they must use flours such as spelt, rye, potato or tapioca, all in three hours. The bakers are challenged in the technical bake to make a dacquoise which consists of three layers; coiled meringue, coffee custard and a hazelnut praline top, to be done in 2+⁄3 hours. For the showstopper, the bakers are pushed out of their comfort zones and asked to create novelty vegetable cakes which must be dairy free, to be completed in four hours.

Episode 9: French week (Semi-final)

This week's theme was all things French. [17] In the signature challenge, the bakers are challenged to make three different types of savoury canapés; choux pastry, shortcrust or rough puff pastry, and a third pastry of their choice, to be done in 2+1⁄2 hours. For the technical bake, the bakers are challenged to make a Charlotte Royale consisting of Swiss roll surrounding a bavarois in 2+1⁄2 hours. It is set with gelatin to form a firm dome when turned out. In the showstopper challenge, the bakers are challenged to bake an iconic French patisserie, the opera cake, in 2+1⁄2 hours.

Episode 10: Final

In the signature challenge, the final three are challenged to create a picnic pie in 3 hours. The pie must be savoury, the fillings have to create a creative design and has to be strong enough to be served out of the tin. For the technical challenge, the bakers are challenged to make 12 perfectly shaped pretzels; six savoury with rock salt and six sweet, flavoured with poppy seeds and topped with sweet orange zest and glaze, all to be done in 21⁄2 hours. For the final showstopper challenge of the series, the bakers are asked to bake the ultimate showpiece – a three-tiered wedding cake in 6 hours.

Masterclasses

Mary and Paul take over the tent and take on the challenges that they set for the bakers, showing what they would have done had they been in the bakers shoes.

Episode 1

Bake 1Bake 2Bake 3
MarySpiced Whole Orange Cake with Orange Mascarpone IcingAngel Food Cake with Lemon CurdChocolate Creation Showstopper
PaulOlive BreadsticksEnglish Muffins

Episode 2

Bake 1Bake 2Bake 3
MaryTipsy TrifleFloating IslandsWobbly Apricot Tart
PaulEgg Custard TartsSpanakopita—

Episode 3

Bake 1Bake 2Bake 3
MaryGinger and Treacle Spiced TraybakeTuiles with Chocolate Mousse—
PaulIced Tea LoafApricot CouronneBrioche Tetes

Episode 4

Bake 1Bake 2Bake 3
MarySussex Pond Pudding with ApplesReligieusesOpera Cake
PaulRye BreadPretzels—

Christmas Masterclass

Bake 1Bake 2Bake 3
Mary Mincemeat Streusel Tunis Cake Gingerbread House
Paul Stollen Black Bun Boxing Day pie

Controversy

Before the series started, there was speculation Paul Hollywood would not appear in the show after his marriage broke down. [18] [19] Mary Berry, however, was claimed to have supported Hollywood over rumours of his possible sacking by BBC; and the BBC denied the rumours and said that his job was safe. [20]

During the series, there were accusations of Paul Hollywood's favouritism towards Ruby Tandoh, [21] and personal attacks on Tandoh by various people including the chef Raymond Blanc. [22] [23] [24] Both Paul Hollywood and Ruby Tandoh denied the accusation. [25] [26]

Post-show careers

Frances Quinn wrote a book, Quinntessential Baking, released on 17 August 2015. [27] [28]

Ruby Tandoh has written three books, Crumb: The Baking Book, published on 25 September 2014, Flavour: Eat What You Love in 2016 [29] and Eat Up: Food, Appetite and Eating What You Want in 2018. [30] She took half a year out from the university after the show, but has returned to complete her philosophy and history of art course at University College London. [31] She wrote a column on baking for The Guardian . [32]

Beca Lyne-Pirkis presented a Welsh language cookery show Becws for S4C starting 11 September 2014. [33] [34]

Glenn Cosby left teaching and launched his own touring stage show Bake It Big in 2014. [35] [36] That same year, Cosby release his book Tasty Travels.

Ali Imdad has set up a bakery business, and become a full-time baker. [37]

Ratings

The show achieved some of the highest ratings seen on BBC Two. According to overnight data, the final episode was seen by 9.1 million viewers at its peak, and averaging over 8 million, more than twice the number of viewers on BBC One and ITV. [38] This episode is the highest-rated show ever on BBC2 under the ratings system first introduced in 2002, beating the previous record set by an episode of Top Gear in 2007. [39] The highest rating for BBC2 of all-time is The 1985 Snooker World Championship Final which peaked with 18.5m viewers. Series 4 had an average of viewing figure of 7.4 million. [40] During the length of the series, the only programmes to have beaten the show on a Tuesday night were EastEnders and Emmerdale.

Official episode viewing figures are from BARB. [41]

Episode
no.		AirdateViewers
(millions)		BBC Two
weekly ranking		Weekly ranking
all channels [42] 		Nightly ranking
120 August 20136.601113
227 August 20136.6512
33 September 20137.1713
410 September 20136.82181
517 September 20136.95173
624 September 20137.32162
71 October 20137.7613
88 October 20137.4112
915 October 20137.4118
1022 October 20139.4541


Specials

The Great British Bake Off, Class of 2012
Episode
no.		AirdateViewers
(millions)		BBC Two
weekly ranking
22 October 20133.692
The Great British Bake Off Masterclass
Episode
no.		AirdateViewers
(millions)		BBC Two
weekly ranking
129 October 20132.734
230 October 20132.2710
331 October 20132.2113
41 November 20131.6924
The Great British Bake Off, Christmas Special
Episode
no.		AirdateViewers
(millions)		BBC Two
weekly ranking
17 December 20133.392

Related Research Articles

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> British television baking competition

The Great British Bake Off is a British television baking competition, produced by Love Productions, in which a group of amateur bakers compete against each other in a series of rounds, attempting to impress two judges with their baking skills. One contestant is eliminated in each round, and the winner is selected from the three contestants who reach the final.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 1 First series of The Great British Bake Off

The first series of The Great British Bake Off first aired on BBC Two on 17 August 2010. Ten home bakers took part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be designated the best amateur baker. Each week the programme bakers participated in three challenges in a particular discipline, with some being eliminated at the end of each episode. The rounds of the competition took place in various locations across the UK following a theme, for example, the episode on puddings took place in Bakewell, bread baking would take place near Sandwich. This first series had a voiceover by Stephen Noonan; for the subsequent series this role was taken by the on-screen presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. The competition was won by Edd Kimber.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 2 Second series of The Great British Bake Off

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. 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.

The third series of The Great British Bake Off began airing on Tuesday 14 August 2012. The series was filmed at Harptree Court in East Harptree, Somerset.

<i>The American Baking Competition</i> 2013 American TV series or program

The American Baking Competition is a reality competition television series that aired on CBS from May 29 to July 10, 2013. It was an adaptation of The Great British Bake Off. The series aimed to find the best amateur baker in the United States. The series was hosted by Jeff Foxworthy and judged by Marcela Valladolid and Paul Hollywood. The competition was won by Brian Emmett.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 5 Fifth series of The Great British Bake Off

The fifth series of The Great British Bake Off first aired on 6 August 2014, with twelve contestants. Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins presented the show and Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood returned as judges. Twelve contestants competed in this series, and the competition was held in Welford Park in Berkshire. The series was won by Nancy Birtwhistle, with Luis Troyano and Richard Burr finishing as runners-up.

The first season of The Great Australian Bake Off premiered on 9 July 2013 on the Nine Network, and saw ten home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. The season consisted of 8 episodes. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 9 July 2013 until 27 August 2013, and saw Nancy Ho win. The season was hosted by Anna Gare and Shane Jacobson, and was judged by Dan Lepard and Kerry Vincent.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 6 Sixth series of The Great British Bake Off

The sixth series of The Great British Bake Off first aired on 5 August 2015, with twelve contestants competing to be the series 6 winner. Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins presented the show, and Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood returned as judges. The competition was held in the ground of Welford Park, Berkshire for a second year. The series was won by Nadiya Hussain, with Tamal Ray and Ian Cumming finishing as runners-up.

The seventh series of The Great British Bake Off aired from 24 August 2016, with twelve contestants competing to be crowned the series 7 winner.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 8 Eighth series of The Great British Bake Off

The eighth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 29 August 2017, with this being the first of The Great British Bake Off to be broadcast on Channel 4, after the production company Love Productions moved the show from BBC One. It is the first series for new hosts Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, and new judge Prue Leith.

The second season of The Great American Baking Show begun December 1, 2016 with a two-hour premiere on ABC. This is the first season to air under its current name, dropping the "holiday" title. Ten amateur bakers competed in an eight-week competition for the title of America's best amateur baker.

The first season of The Great Canadian Baking Show premiered on CBC Television on November 1, 2017. Ten amateur bakers competed over eight weeks of challenges throughout the competition for the title.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 9 Ninth series of The Great British Bake Off

The ninth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 28 August 2018, with this being the second series to be broadcast on Channel 4. The series is presented by Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. This series saw a few changes to the usual format: the first episode being Biscuit Week, the documentary inserts were dropped, and the finale included the competitors doing a technical challenge outside the tent for the first time.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 10 Tenth series of The Great British Bake Off

The tenth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 27 August 2019. It was presented by returning hosts Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, and judged by returning judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.

The second season of The Great Kiwi Bake Off premiered on TVNZ 2 on 3 November 2019 with hosts Hayley Sproull and Madeleine Sami and judges Dean Brettschneider and Sue Fleischl returning for the season. This season saw each episode expanded to ninety-minutes and featured the Signature, Technical, and Showstopper challenges on every episode instead of just the finale like the previous season.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 11 Eleventh series of The Great British Bake Off

The eleventh series of The Great British Bake Off began on 22 September 2020. It was presented by returning host Noel Fielding and new host Matt Lucas, who replaced Sandi Toksvig, and was judged by returning judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The first three episodes were extended to 90 minutes instead of the usual 75 minutes. The bakers were announced on 15 September 2020.

The fourth season of The Great Canadian Baking Show premiered on CBC Television on February 14, 2021. As with previous seasons, ten amateur bakers will compete over eight weeks of challenges, vying for the title. The season marked the debut of Ann Pornel and Alan Shane Lewis as hosts, who replaced Carolyn Taylor and Aurora Browne. Bruno Feldeisen and Kyla Kennaley returned for their fourth and second seasons respectively as judges.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 12 Twelfth series of The Great British Bake Off

The twelfth series of The Great British Bake Off began airing on 21 September 2021. It is presented by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, and judged by returning judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The bakers were announced on 14 September 2021.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 13 Season of television series

The thirteenth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 13 September 2022. It is again presented by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas and judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The bakers competing in the series were announced on 2 September 2022. The series was filmed at Welford Park, an estate near Newbury, Berkshire which was previously used for the programme from 2014 to 2019.

<i>The Great British Bake Off</i> series 14 Season of television series

The fourteenth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 26 September 2023. In December 2022, Matt Lucas announced his departure from the show after three series as a co-presenter. In March 2023, Alison Hammond was announced as his replacement and joined Noel Fielding as co-host. Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith returned to judge the series. The bakers competing in the series were announced on 18 September 2023, and included the show’s first ever deaf contestant.

References

  1. ↑ Alex Fletcher (8 August 2013). "'Great British Bake Off' returns: First look at series four – Watch". Digital Spy.
  2. 1 2 Louise Carpenter (20 July 2013). "Behind the scenes at The Great British Bake Off". The Observer.
  3. ↑ Ben O'Brien (9 August 2013). "Great British Bake Off returns to the screen – and to East Harptree". The Somerset Standard and Guardian.
  4. ↑ Kelby McNally (8 August 2013). "FIRST LOOK: Great British Bake off is back!". The Daily Express.
  5. ↑ Plunkett, John (22 October 2013). "Frances Quinn wins The Great British Bake Off". The Guardian.
  6. ↑ Beca Lyne Pirkis. "Diet Starts Tomorrow…".
  7. ↑ "Christine Bakes".
  8. ↑ "Deborah Manger".
  9. ↑ Francis Quinn, Quinntessential
  10. ↑ "Glenn Cosby".
  11. ↑ Howard Middleton. "HoMi Baking".
  12. ↑ "butimhungrynow". butimhungrynow. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  13. ↑ Lucy Bellamy. "Lucy B – Female Gardener".
  14. ↑ Rob Smart. "Rob Smart Bakes".
  15. ↑ Ruby Tandoh. "Ruby and the Kitchen".
  16. ↑ Toby Waterworth, Bakedown
  17. ↑ "French Week". BBC.
  18. ↑ Alex Ralph (16 September 2013). "Next on menu after marriage break-up: Paul Hollywood puts his name on pants". The Times.
  19. ↑ Don Kaplan (29 May 2013). "Reported affair between judges Paul Hollywood and Marcela Valladolid adds spice to baking show". New York Daily News.
  20. ↑ Sam Marsden (27 May 2013). "Paul Hollywood's job on The Great British Bake Off is safe, BBC says". The Daily Telegraph.
  21. ↑ "Paul Hollywood shocks Bake Off fans by setting them straight on train". What's on TV. 9 October 2013.
  22. ↑ Liam O'Brien (21 October 2013). "Raymond Blanc rows with Great British Bake Off's Ruby Tandoh on Twitter" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
  23. ↑ Ruby Tandoh (22 October 2013). "The Great British Bake Off: why did our show attract so much vitriol?". The Guardian.
  24. ↑ Sarah Ditum (21 October 2013). "The Great British Bake-Off: Ruby Tandoh doesn't deserve this hostility". The Guardian.
  25. ↑ Daisy Wyatt (15 October 2013). "Paul Hollywood denies favouring Great British Bake Off's Ruby Tandoh: 'I think Kimberley's far prettier'" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
  26. ↑ Carl Greenwood (14 October 2013). "Great British Bake Off beauty Ruby Tandoh definitely does NOT fancy silver fox Paul Hollywood". Daily Mirror.
  27. ↑ Georgia Morgan (29 August 2015). "Former Great British Bake Off winner Frances Quinn shares recipes for her yummy treats from new book".
  28. ↑ Leah Hyslop (1 April 2014). "Frances Quinn: 'Bake Off was an endurance test'". Daily Telegraph.
  29. ↑ Rao, Tejal (3 January 2017). "Ruby Tandoh Just Wants You to Eat What You Love". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  30. ↑ Fox, Killian (5 February 2020). "Ruby Tandoh: 'I want to remind people that it's fine to enjoy a ready meal'". The Guardian.
  31. ↑ Siân Ranscombe (26 September 2014). "Ruby Tandoh on GBBO, Twitter trolls and her new baking book". The Daily Telegraph.
  32. ↑ "Ruby Tandoh". The Guardian.
  33. ↑ Kate Rees (30 July 2014). "'I'm happy about being the only Welshie on the Great British Bake Off,' says Beca Lyne-Pirkis". Wales Online.
  34. ↑ Ruth Dawson (2 September 2014). "Bake Off's Beca is back with new baking show Becws". South Wales Evening Post.
  35. ↑ "Bake it Big with Glenn Cosby – on tour this summer!". Food Heaven. 8 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Great British Bake Off star Glenn Cosby returns to Bake It Big". Exeter Express and Echo. 12 June 2014.
  37. ↑ Roz Laws (2 August 2014). "Whatever happened to the Great British Bake Off bakers from the Midlands?". Birmingham Mail.
  38. ↑ John Plunkett (23 October 2013). "Great British Bake Off final: 9m watch Frances Quinn win". The Guardian.
  39. ↑ Georg Szalai. "BBC's 'Great British Bake Off' Ends Season 4 With Record Ratings". The Hollywood Reporter.
  40. ↑ Stephen Price (22 January 2015). "BBC1 rises to the challenge". Broadcast.
  41. ↑ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  42. ↑ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 16 September 2015.
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