The Great British Bake Off series 8

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The Great British Bake Off
Series 8
The Great British Bake Off (series 8) digital release.jpg
British digital release
Starring
No. of episodes10
Release
Original network Channel 4
Original release29 August (2017-08-29) 
31 October 2017 (2017-10-31)
Series chronology
 Previous
Series 7
Next 
Series 9

The eighth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 29 August 2017, [1] 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. [2] It is the first series for new hosts Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, and new judge Prue Leith. [3]

This series was won by Sophie Faldo, with Kate Lyon and Steven Carter-Bailey finishing as runners-up. [4]

Bakers

Contestant [5] [6] AgeHometownOccupationFinishPlace
Peter Abatan52 Southend, England IT programme manager [7] Episode 112
Chris Geiger50 Bristol, EnglandSoftware developer [8] Episode 211
Flo Atkins71 Merseyside, EnglandRetired [9] Episode 310
Tom Hetherington29 Edinburgh, Scotland Architect [10] Episode 49
James Hillery46 Brentwood, EnglandBanker [11] Episode 58
Julia Chernogorova21 Crawley, EnglandAviation Broker [12] Episode 67
Chuen-Yan "Yan" Tsou46 North London, EnglandLaboratory research scientist [13] Episode 76
Liam Charles 19North London, EnglandStudent [14] Episode 85
Stacey Hart42 Radlett, EnglandFormer school teacher [15] Episode 94
Kate Lyon29Merseyside, EnglandHealth and safety inspector [16] Episode 103-2
Steven Carter-Bailey34 Watford, EnglandMarketer [17]
Sophie Faldo 33 West Molesey, EnglandFormer army officer and trainee stuntwoman [18] 1

Results summary

Elimination chart
Baker12345678910
SophieHIGHHIGHSAFESAFESBHIGHHIGHSAFESBWINNER
KateSAFELOWSAFESBSAFESAFELOWLOWHIGHRunner-up
StevenSBSBHIGHSAFESAFESAFESBHIGHLOWRunner-up
StaceyLOWLOWSAFESAFEHIGHLOWLOWSBOUT
LiamSAFESAFELOWHIGHLOWSBHIGHOUT
YanSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEHIGHOUT
JuliaSAFESAFESBSAFELOWOUT
JamesSAFESAFESAFELOWOUT
TomSAFEHIGHSAFEOUT
FloHIGHLOWOUT
ChrisLOWOUT
PeterOUT

Colour key:

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

Episodes

Colour key:

  Baker was eliminated at conclusion of episode
  Baker received a "Hollywood handshake" for respective bake
  Baker was named "Star Baker" at conclusion of episode
  Baker was named runner-up for the series
  Baker won series

Episode 1: Cakes

For the first challenge, the bakers were instructed to make a cake using fresh fruit, with no dried fruit permitted, in two hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were instructed to make twelve chocolate mini rolls using Prue Leith's recipe which contains peppermint cream, in two hours. The showstopper challenge required the bakers to make an illusion cake: a cake that appears to be some other object. They had four hours to complete the task.

Episode 2: Biscuits

For the signature challenge, the bakers were instructed to make 24 sandwich biscuits in two hours and fifteen minutes. For the technical challenge, the bakers faced a very difficult challenge of making fortune cookies of two types of flavours – six almond and six orange, in two hours. For the final showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a biscuit board game that should be at least 40 cm (16 in) long in diameter and has at least eight elements in 3+12 hours. [19]

Episode 3: Bread

The bakers were instructed to make twelve teacakes in 2+34 hours in the signature challenge. For the technical challenge, the bakers were tasked to make a cottage loaf in 2+12 hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a multicoloured bread sculpture with at least three colours using natural food colouring in 4+12 hours. [20]

Episode 4: Caramel

For the first signature challenge, the bakers were required to produce eighteen identical millionaire shortbread bars in two hours and fifteen minutes. The technical challenge was set by Prue Leith where the bakers were tasked to make twelve stroopwafels in one hour and forty-five minutes. Only one test waffle was allowed, and the challenge proved to be a very difficult one for the bakers with none of them producing an adequate caramel. For the final showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a caramel cake consisting of at least three layers of sponge in 3+12 hours. They were required to incorporate spun sugar into their decorations. [21]

Episode 5: Puddings

For the signature challenge, the eight remaining bakers were required to bake a steamed school pudding with an accompaniment such as a compote or a custard in three hours. The technical challenge was set by Paul Hollywood where the bakers had to bake six molten chocolate puddings with a peanut butter filling in one hour. Each baker was called one at a time so their puddings could be ready at different times for Paul and Prue to judge (starting with Julia, followed by Sophie, Liam, Steven, Yan, Kate, James and finally Stacey). For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were asked to bake an ornamental trifle terrine with three elements—a baked element, a set custard or mousse, and a jelly—in 4+12 hours . [22]

Episode 6: Pastry

In the signature challenge, the bakers were required to produce four decorative savoury pies using shortcrust pastry with different designs on the pies that share a common theme in 2+12 hours. For the technical challenge, set by Paul, the bakers were tasked to produce twelve pastéis de nata using rough puff pastry in two hours. For the final showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to produce a family-sized hand-raised pie with a savoury filling using hot water crust pastry, topped with glazed fruits in four hours. [23]

Episode 7: Italian

For the first ever Italian week in Bake Off, the bakers were given 2+12 hours to make the required eighteen Sicilian Cannolis with three different types of fillings. This week's Italian technical challenge was set by Prue Leith, where the bakers were tasked to make the well-known, yet tricky, Pizza Margherita with a thin crispy base in 1+12 hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a very technically challenging and fiddly Italian bake: twenty-four Sfogliatelles with two types of fillings in 4+12 hours. [24]

Episode 8: Forgotten Bakes (Quarterfinals)

The bakers were required to make 4 Bedfordshire Clangers within two hours in the signature challenge. Each must contain a savoury filling at one end and a sweet filling at the other, and be made from suet crust pastry. In the technical challenge, set by Paul Hollywood, the bakers were given 112 hours to make a traditional Cumberland Rum Nicky: a large tart consisting of a sweet shortcrust pastry, a rum-soaked fruity filling covered with a lattice top, and served with a smooth rum butter. For the historic showstopper, the bakers had 312 hours to make a Victorian Savoy cake, a sponge cake baked in a mold, often in elaborate architectural shapes, with a hard sugar crust or coating that helped preserve it as it served as a banquet centrepiece. [25]

Episode 9: Pâtisserie (Semi-final)

For the semifinal signature bakes, the bakers were asked to make twenty-four choux buns—twelve must have a crunchy craquelin on top, and the other twelve must be covered with icing—in 2+12 hours. For the technical challenge, which was set by Prue Leith, the bakers were tasked with a very difficult job of making nine Les Misérables slices to be done in three hours. For the showstopper challenge before the final, the bakers were asked to make a meringue centrepiece, containing at least two different types of meringue and a dessert element, in four hours and forty-five minutes. [26]

Episode 10: Final

For the signature challenge in the final, the last three bakers were tasked to make a batch of twelve small loaves. There must be three different types of loaves—four need to be intricately shaped (e.g. plaited), four need to be flavoured, and four need to be made from an alternative grain such as spelt or buckwheat—in three hours. Prue set the final technical challenge, asking the bakers to make ten ginger biscuits—five oval and five square—in 2+12 hours. [27] They each should have a great snap and be intricately iced with two complicated patterns. For the ultimate showstopper challenge, the bakers were tasked to make one large entremet, having a minimum of five elements, one of which must be a sponge, and covered with a glaze or ganache, all in five hours. [28]

Specials

The two holiday specials each featured four returning contestants from the series 2–7.[ citation needed ]

The first special featured Selasi Gbormittah (Series 7), Val Stones (Series 7), Paul Jagger (Series 6) and Beca Lyne-Pirkis (Series 4). The competition was won by Paul Jagger.

The second special featured Benjamina Ebuehi (Series 7), Rav Bansal (Series 7), Sandy Docherty (Series 6) and Rob Billington (Series 2). The competition was won by Rav Bansal.

The Great Christmas Bake Off

For the signature challenge, the bakers were given two hours to create a Christmas family favourite: a Yule Log. The technical challenge was set by Prue, and allowed the bakers 1+12 hours to make twelve mince pies with lattice tops, served with brandy butter, with very limited instructions and ingredients provided. The showstopper challenge featured the bakers creating eight snow globe cakes using a sugar glass dome to encase an edible Christmas scene on top of an entremet.

The Big Festive Bake Off

The bakers were required to make six snowy bombe Alaska tarts in the signature challenge. The technical challenge was set by Paul, where the bakers were tasked to make a pistachio Kransekake Christmas tree consisting of twelve layers of concentric rings, topped with a star. For the final showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a magical ice cake with elaborate sugar work that create a scene of winter wonderland.

Post-show career

Liam Charles was chosen as a co-presenter for the revamped professional version of Great British Bake Off, Bake Off: The Professionals , [29] and in 2019 returned as co-judge for Junior Bake Off . He has written two recipe books on baking; Cheeky Treats: 70 Brilliant Bakes and Cakes, [30] and Second Helpings. [31]

Sophie Faldo runs her own business, Sophie Faldo Cakes. [32] She has also appeared in an episode of a travelogue TV series Travels with a Goat. [33]

Controversies

On 31 October 2017, judge Prue Leith accidentally revealed Sophie Faldo as the winner of the series on Twitter twelve hours before the finale was due to air. This caused uproar among many fans of the show. She quickly deleted the tweet and apologised to the fans who saw the tweet. [34]

Ratings

The first episode to be broadcast on Channel 4 received an overnight viewing figure of 6.5 million, which is the channel's highest viewing figure since the opening ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics, but down from the 10 million obtained in the previous series on BBC One. [35] The overnight viewing figure for the final was 7.7 million (8.9 million at its peak), lower than the 14 million for the equivalent episode on BBC One in 2016. [36]

Official episode viewing figures are from BARB. Figures are total counts including HD and Channel 4 +1. [37]

Episode
no.
Airdate7 day viewers
(millions)
28 day viewers
(millions)
Channel 4
weekly ranking
Weekly ranking
all channels [38]
129 August 20179.469.721
25 September 20179.239.5312
312 September 20178.689.06
419 September 20178.558.873
526 September 20178.618.984
63 October 20178.618.91
710 October 20179.019.323
817 October 20178.959.194
924 October 20179.039.16
1031 October 201710.0410.13

Specials

The Great Christmas Bake Off
Episode
no.
Airdate7 day viewers
(millions)
28 day viewers
(millions)
Channel 4
weekly ranking
Weekly ranking
all channels [38]
25 December 20174.775.00134
The Great Festive Bake Off
Episode
no.
Airdate7 day viewers
(millions)
28 day viewers
(millions)
Channel 4
weekly ranking
Weekly ranking
all channels [38]
1 January 20183.833.911TBA

References

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  2. Sillito, David (13 September 2016). "Why did The Great British Bake Off move to Channel 4?". BBC.
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  4. "The Great British Bake Off series verdict: it was bake or break, but Channel 4 played a blinder". The Telegraph. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
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  8. Gill, James. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Chris Geiger?". Radio Times.
  9. Bley Griffiths, Eleanor. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Flo Atkins?". Radio Times.
  10. "Who is The Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Tom Hetherington?". Radio Times.
  11. SophFinnegan (29 August 2017). "Great British Bake Off: Here's everything we know about banker James from Brentwood". Essex Live.
  12. Page, Sarah (29 August 2017). "Get set for tears and tension as Bake Off returns tonight ... with a Horsham lass". West Sussex county Times.
  13. Allen, Ben. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Chuen-Yan 'Yan'?". Radio Times.
  14. Bley Griffiths, Eleanor. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Liam Charles?". Radio Times.
  15. "Great British Bake Off 2017: Radlett being represented by Stacey Hart". The Herts Advertiser. 22 August 2017.
  16. Bley Griffiths, Eleanor. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Kate Lyon?". Radio Times.
  17. Lacey-Davidson, Mattie (5 September 2017). "Get to know Watford's 'star baker' Steven Carter-Bailey ahead of second episode of The Great British Bake Off tonight on Channel 4". Watford Observer.
  18. Nightingale, Laura (30 August 2017). "Great British Bake Off: Surrey's Sophie gets Hollywood handshake during first week in the tent". Get Surrey.
  19. "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode two – as it happened". Guardian. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  20. "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode three – as it happened". Guardian. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  21. "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode four – as it happened". Guardian. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  22. "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode five – as it happened". Guardian. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  23. "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode six – as it happened". Guardian. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
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  25. "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode eight – as it happened". Guardian. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
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  27. "The Great British Bake Off 2017: How the final unfolded". BBC News. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  28. "The Great British Bake Off 2017 final – as it happened". Guardian. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  29. Bloodworth, Adam (7 February 2018). "Liam Charles to host Great British Bake Off: The Professionals spin-off show on Channel 4". Metro.
  30. Williams, Zoe (11 July 2018). "Bake Off's Liam Charles: 'Cake is the best way to make people happy'". The Guardian.
  31. "Liam Charles Second Helpings : 70 wicked recipes that will leave you wanting more Hardback by Liam Charles". The Telegraph.
  32. McEvoy, Sophie (29 October 2019). "Where Are All The Past 'Bake Off' Winners Now? These Star Bakers Have Been Busy Since Winning The Series". Bustle.
  33. Power, Ed (14 January 2019). "Travels with a Goat, review - a grime-caked travelogue confronting the ethics of eating meat". The Telegraph.
  34. McCormack, Kirsty (31 October 2017). "Great British Bake Off 2017 winner REVEALED by judge Prue Leith: 'I'm mortified'". Daily Express . Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  35. Ruddick, Graham (30 August 2017). "Great British Bake Off proves ratings winner for Channel 4". The Guardian.
  36. Grant Cumberbatch, Aimée (1 November 2017). "Great British Bake Off final brings in Channel 4's biggest audience for six years despite judge Prue Leith's accidental early reveal". The Evening Standard.
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  38. 1 2 3 "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 1 September 2017.