The Great British Bake Off series 14 explained

Series Number:14
Num Episodes:10
Network:Channel 4

The fourteenth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 26 September 2023.[1] [2] [3] In December 2022, Matt Lucas announced his departure from the show after three series as a co-presenter.[4] [5] In March 2023, Alison Hammond was announced as his replacement and joined Noel Fielding as co-host.[6] [7] Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith returned to judge the series.[8] [9] The bakers competing in the series were announced on 18 September 2023, and included the show’s first ever deaf contestant.[10] [11] [12] [13]

The series was won by Matty Edgell, with Dan Hunter and Josh Smalley finishing as the runners-up.[14]

Bakers

Baker[15] [16] AgeOccupationHometown
Abbi Lawson27Delivery driverCumbria[17] [18]
Amos Lilley43Deli and grocery managerLondon[19] [20]
Cristy Sharp33Personal assistantLondon[21] [22]
Dan Hunter42Civil engineering resource planner Cheshire[23] [24]
Dana Conway25Database administratorEssex[25] [26]
Josh Smalley27Chemical biology post-doctoral research associateLeicestershire[27] [28]
Keith Barron60Chartered accountantHampshire[29] [30]
Matty Edgell28PE and science teacherCambridgeshire[31] [32]
Nicky Laceby52Retired cabin crew and pet-therapy charity volunteerShropshire[33] [34]
Rowan Claughton21English literature studentWest Yorkshire[35] [36]
Saku Chandrasekara50Intelligence analystHerefordshire[37] [38]
Tasha Stones27Children's charity participation officerBristol[39]

Results summary

Elimination chart
Baker12345678910
MattySAFESAFESAFESBSAFELOWSAFE SBLOWWINNER
DanSBSAFELOWSAFESAFESBLOW
JoshSAFESAFESBSB
TashaSAFESBSBN/ASAFESAFE SAFEOUT
CristySAFE SAFELOWSBLOWOUT
SakuSAFE SAFE SAFELOWLOWLOWOUT
DanaLOWSAFE SAFESAFE LOWOUT
NickyLOWLOWSAFE OUT
RowanSAFESAFE LOWSAFE OUT
AbbiSAFE OUT
KeithSAFEOUT
AmosOUT

Tasha was ill and unable to compete during the technical and showstopper in episode 4. As a result, the judges decided that it was unfair to eliminate anyone in her absence.

Colour key:

Episodes

Episode 1: Cake

The first episode is Cake Week.[40] [41] For the first signature challenge, the bakers were given two hours to produce a Vertical Layer Cake made of sponge and icing. For the technical challenge, set by Paul, the bakers were tasked with making "The Great British Bake Off Cake" (the one seen in the credits each week[42] [43]) in two hours, comprising two layers of moist chocolate sponge covered with chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries. A 3D cake replica of an animal of the bakers' choosing was set as the showstopper; the bakers were given four hours, the judges expecting the bake to be mostly sponge.

Episode 2: Biscuits

In Biscuit Week the signature bake was twelve Marshmallow biscuits of whatever form in hours. In the technical challenge, set by Prue, the bakers had hours to bake twelve custard cream biscuits. The showstopper challenge gave them four hours to bake an Illusion Biscuit display which represented the bakers favourite meal.

Episode 3: Bread

The bakers were tasked with making their own cottage loaf in hours for the signature challenge. For the technical challenge, set by Paul, the task was baking 8 Devonshire Splits, i.e. buns which are split in half and are filled with jam, clotted cream and strawberries, in hours. In the showstopper, the bakers were given four hours to make a sweet or savoury Plaited Centrepiece Loaf that featured two different types of flour.

Episode 4: Chocolate

A "luxurious" chocolate torte, to be made without wheat flour in hours, was set as the signature challenge. The technical challenge, set by Prue, required six individual-sized white chocolate and blackcurrant cheesecakes to be baked in two hours. For the showstopper the bakers were given four hours to make an "Edible Chocolate Box Cake"—an edible chocolate box with filled molded chocolates and containing a chocolate cake inside.

Tasha returned home after falling ill during the technical challenge and did not participate in the showstopper. As a result, the judges decided not to eliminate anyone, and the following episode would include a double elimination.

Episode 5: Pastry

For the signature challenge, the bakers were required to produce twelve individual savoury picnic pies, made with hot water crust pastry, in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, asked the bakers to bake a Dauphinoise Pithivier, using flaky "rough puff" pastry and accompanied by a blue cheese sauce, in two hours and forty-five minutes. The showstopper challenge tasked the bakers with making a decorative sweet pie display with a minimum of three pies, in fours hours; the judges expected them to have a sweet pastry case.

Episode 6: Botanical

The signature challenge asked the bakers to make twelve individual spiced buns in two hours and forty-five minutes. Prue's technical challenge tasked them with making a lemon and thyme drizzle cake, topped with crystallised lemon peel and thyme, in 1½ hours. The showstopper challenge required the bakers to make a floral dessert, in any style but with at least one significant baked element, and celebrating flowers in flavours and design, in hours.

Episode 7: Desserts

The signature challenge required the bakers to produce eight crème caramels in hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, tasked them with making six individual orange and ginger treacle puddings in hours. A meringue bombe with a dessert of the bakers' choice inside was set as the showstopper, to be made in four hours.

Episode 8: Party (Quarterfinals)

The signature challenge required the bakers to make twelve sausage rolls, using the pastry of their choice, in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, asked the bakers to make a chocolate caterpillar cake in hours.[44] The bakers had 4½ hours to make their showstopper challenge, a colourful and decorative 'Anything But Beige' Buffet display of a mixture of sweet and savory party foods, baking at least 12 of each item.

Episode 9: Patisserie (Semifinal)

Patisserie week's signature challenge was for the bakers to make two batches of twelve decorated financiers in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Prue, was to bake a tarte aux pommes with short buttery pastry, with a smooth almond frangipane and apple puree, and topped with arranged glazed apple slices, all in hours. The showstopper challenge gave the bakers four hours to produce a Millefoglie, an elegant highly decorated Italian celebration cake with at least four layers of buttery, flaky puff pastry, in four hours.

Episode 10: Final

The final signature challenge tasked the bakers with making eight éclairs in two different flavors, in two hours and fifteen minutes. The final technical challenge, set by Paul, asked the bakers to make nine Lardy cake slices in three hours. The final showstopper challenge was for the bakers to make an elegant celebration cake with at least three tiers, inspired by their first bake, in half hours. Based on the judges' comments during deliberations, Dan can be seen as an unofficial third place, as they said Josh and Matty were in line to win.

Specials

Two specials were commissioned for the festive season:[45]

The Great Christmas Bake Off

The Great Christmas Bake Off featured Series 8 winner Sophie Faldo, Dan Beasley-Harling from Series 9, Amelia Le Bruin from Series 10, Linda Rayfield from Series 11, George Aristidou from Series 12, and Carole Edwards from Series 13.

For the signature challenge, the bakers had to make 12 mince pies using any pastry, with a festive filling, in 2 hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, was a tear and share cinnamon snowflake bread, with an enriched dough, in 2¾ hours. The showstopper challenge, was to bake an exquisite celebration cake based on redemption, with any style and flavours, in 4 hours.

BakerSignature
(Mince Pies)
Technical
(Tear and Share Cinnamon Snowflake Bread)
Showstopper
(Redemption Celebration Cake)
Result
Amelia‘Star’ Mince Pies3rdPistachio and Orange ‘Redemption’ Cake
Carole‘Typically Tropical’ Mince Pies6th‘O Christmas Tree, ‘O Christmas Tree’ Cake
Dan ‘Merry Cherry Magic’ Mince Pies2nd‘Pearfully Does It’ Cake
George ‘Merry Cherry’ Mince Pies 5th‘Roll on Christmas’ Cake
Linda‘Festive Fun’ Mince Pies 4th‘Festive Revival’ Cake
Sophie‘Skiing at Christmas’ Mince Pies 1st‘Christmas Candle Centerpiece’ Cake

The Great New Year Bake Off

The Great New Year Bake Off featured Mark Lutton from Series 11, Jürgen Krauss and Maggie Richardson both from Series 12, and Maxy Maligisa from Series 13.

The signature challenge was for the bakers to make 12 Religieuse with a festive theme in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, was for the bakers to make a Galette Des Rois with crisp, buttery pastry and an almond frangipane filling in two hours. The showstopper challenge was for the bakers to create an exquisite New Year’s Smash Cake that had a chocolate dome shell, in 4 hours.

BakerSignature
(Religieuse)
Technical
(Galette Des Rois)
Showstopper
(Smash Cake)
Result
Jürgen‘Lucky Chimney Sweeps’ Religieuse4th‘New Year’s Sunrise’ Smash Cake
Maggie‘New Year’s Day Party’ Religieuse3rd‘Winter Fun’ Smash Cake
Mark‘Boozy Relig-eusey’2nd‘Tropical Snowman’ Smash Cake
Maxy‘Away In A Manger’ Religieuse1st‘Phoenix’ Smash Cake

Ratings

The first episode of the 14th series has an overnight viewing figure of 4.3 million, a slight fall from the 4.4 million of 2022.[46]

Episode
no.
Airdate7-day viewers
(millions)
Channel 4
weekly ranking
Weekly ranking
all channels[47]
17.8412
27.5412
37.2813
47.1214
55.8914
66.3213
76.9413
86.7714
96.47111
106.75110

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Great British Bake Off 2023: Release date, hosts and latest news. Radio Times.
  2. Web site: When is The Great British Bake Off on? Start date and time revealed. Heart.
  3. Web site: Bake Off confirms release date for new series. 13 September 2023. Digital Spy.
  4. Web site: Matt Lucas ends run as Great British Bake Off host. 6 December 2022. BBC News.
  5. Web site: Matt Lucas to leave The Great British Bake Off . The Guardian.
  6. News: The Great British Bake Off: Alison Hammond replaces Matt Lucas as co-host. BBC News . 17 March 2023.
  7. Web site: Baking news... Alison Hammond joins Bake Off . Channel 4.
  8. News: The Great British Bake Off scraps national-themed weeks after criticism. BBC News . 1 September 2023.
  9. Web site: Who are the hosts and judges of this year's Great British Bake Off?. 25 September 2023. The Independent.
  10. News: Mensah . Katelyn . Bake Off stars learned sign language for show's first ever deaf baker . 18 April 2024 . RadioTimes.com . Radio Times . 19 September 2023.
  11. News: The 2023 Great British Bake Off contestants – ranked!. Stuart. Heritage. 19 September 2023. The Guardian.
  12. Web site: Bakers Revealed for The Great British Bake Off Series 14 . Channel 4.
  13. Web site: Great British Bake Off 2023 contestants, judges and theme weeks!. 19 September 2023. BBC.
  14. Web site: The Great British Bake Off final – as it happened. 28 November 2023. Guardian. 29 November 2023.
  15. Web site: Bakers Archives. The Great British Bake Off.
  16. Web site: Great British Bake Off unveils 2023 cast. 18 September 2023. Digital Spy.
  17. Web site: Abbi. The Great British Bake Off.
  18. Web site: Meet Abbi, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and nature lover. Radio Times.
  19. Web site: Amos. The Great British Bake Off.
  20. Web site: Meet Amos, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and theatre lover. Radio Times.
  21. Web site: Cristy. The Great British Bake Off.
  22. Web site: Meet Cristy, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and party planner. Radio Times.
  23. Web site: Dan. The Great British Bake Off.
  24. Web site: Meet Dan, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and pie lover. Radio Times.
  25. Web site: Dana. The Great British Bake Off.
  26. Web site: Meet Dana, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and self-professed untidy baker. Radio Times.
  27. Web site: Josh. The Great British Bake Off.
  28. Web site: Meet Josh, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and rugby player. Radio Times.
  29. Web site: Keith. The Great British Bake Off.
  30. Web site: Meet Keith, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and chartered accountant. Radio Times.
  31. Web site: Matty. The Great British Bake Off.
  32. Web site: Great British Bake Off 2023 reveals confirmed line-up for season 14. Radio Times.
  33. Web site: Nicky. The Great British Bake Off.
  34. Web site: Meet Nicky, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and volunteer. Radio Times.
  35. Web site: Rowan. The Great British Bake Off.
  36. Web site: Meet Rowan, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and university student. Radio Times.
  37. Web site: Saku. The Great British Bake Off.
  38. Web site: Meet Saku, Great British Bake Off 2023 contestant and intelligence analyst. Radio Times.
  39. Web site: Tasha. The Great British Bake Off.
  40. Web site: GBBO 2023: What themes are they doing each week this year?. 22 September 2023. Cosmopolitan.
  41. Web site: Great British Bake Off scraps national-themed weeks. Radio Times.
  42. Web site: Agius . Nicola . Great British Bake Off fans want Channel 4 to fix this opening credits 'gaffe' . Digital Spy . Hearst UK . 18 April 2024 . 6 September 2017.
  43. Web site: Mitchell . Harriet . Great British Bake Off premiere's challenge featured big Easter egg . Digital Spy . Hearst UK . 18 April 2024 . 26 September 2023.
  44. Web site: Paul Hollywood's Caterpillar Cake . The Great British Bake Off . Love Productions Ltd. . 27 April 2024.
  45. Web site: BAKE OFF REVEALS RETURNING BAKERS FOR FESTIVE SPECIALS ON CHANNEL 4. 6 December 2023. TV Zone UK. 7 December 2023.
  46. News: Bake Off viewing figures down compared to 2022 launch despite Alison Hammond being hit with fans . Lisa . McLoughlin . Evening Standard .
  47. Web site: Weekly top 50 shows. Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.