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

Baker [5] [6] AgeOccupationHometownLinks
Chris Geiger50Software developer Bristol [7]
Flo Atkins71Retired Merseyside [8]
James Hillery46Banker Brentwood, Essex [9]
Julia Chernogorova21Aviation Broker Crawley, West Sussex [10]
Kate Lyon29Health and safety inspector Merseyside [11]
Liam Charles 19Student North London [12]
Peter Abatan52IT programme manager Southend, Essex [13]
Sophie Faldo 33Former army officer and trainee stuntwoman West Molesey, Surrey [14]
Stacey Hart42Former school teacher Radlett, Hertfordshire [15]
Steven Carter-Bailey34Marketer Watford, Hertfordshire [16]
Tom Hetherington29Architect Edinburgh [17]
Chuen-Yan "Yan" Tsou46Laboratory research scientist North London [18]

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

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+1⁄2 hours. [19]

Episode 3: Bread

The bakers were instructed to make twelve teacakes in 2+3⁄4 hours in the signature challenge. For the technical challenge, the bakers were tasked to make a cottage loaf in 2+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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 11⁄2 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 31⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 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

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>Junior Bake Off</i> Television baking competition series

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.

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

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

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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

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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.

The first season of The Great American Baking Show, released under the title The Great Holiday Baking Show, premiered on ABC on November 30, 2015 as part of ABC's holiday programming schedule. Six amateur bakers competed in twelve challenges throughout the competition for the title of America's best holiday baker.

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.

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

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

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

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

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References

  1. ↑ "Great British Bake Off: BBC moves rival cooking show in scheduling spat". BBC News. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Sillito, David (13 September 2016). "Why did The Great British Bake Off move to Channel 4?". BBC.
  3. ↑ "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode one – as it happened". Guardian. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  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.
  5. ↑ "Great British Bake Off 2017 – all you need to know". Digital Spy . 22 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Meet The Great British Bake Off series 8 bakers - Channel 4 - Info - Press". www.channel4.com.
  7. ↑ Gill, James. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Chris Geiger?". Radio Times.
  8. ↑ Bley Griffiths, Eleanor. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Flo Atkins?". Radio Times.
  9. ↑ SophFinnegan (29 August 2017). "Great British Bake Off: Here's everything we know about banker James from Brentwood". Essex Live.
  10. ↑ Page, Sarah (29 August 2017). "Get set for tears and tension as Bake Off returns tonight ... with a Horsham lass". West Sussex county Times.
  11. ↑ Bley Griffiths, Eleanor. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Kate Lyon?". Radio Times.
  12. ↑ Bley Griffiths, Eleanor. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Liam Charles?". Radio Times.
  13. ↑ SophFinnegan (20 August 2017). "Great British Bake Off: Here's everything we know about Peter from Southend". Essex Live.
  14. ↑ Nightingale, Laura (30 August 2017). "Great British Bake Off: Surrey's Sophie gets Hollywood handshake during first week in the tent". Get Surrey.
  15. ↑ "Great British Bake Off 2017: Radlett being represented by Stacey Hart". The Herts Advertiser. 22 August 2017.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "Who is The Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Tom Hetherington?". Radio Times.
  18. ↑ Allen, Ben. "Who is Great British Bake Off 2017 contestant Chuen-Yan 'Yan'?". Radio Times.
  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.
  24. ↑ "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode seven – as it happened". Guardian. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  25. ↑ "The Great British Bake Off 2017, episode eight – as it happened". Guardian. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  26. ↑ "The Great British Bake Off 2017 semi-final – as it happened". Guardian. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  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.
  37. ↑ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  38. 1 2 3 "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 1 September 2017.
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