List of The Great British Bake Off contestants facts for kids
The Great British Bake Off is a super popular TV show where amateur bakers compete to see who can bake the best cakes, breads, pastries, and more! It first started on BBC Two in 2010. Later, it moved to BBC One in 2014, and then to Channel 4 in 2017. Each week, the bakers face different challenges, and one person is crowned "Star Baker" for doing the best. At the end of each series, one talented baker wins the whole competition!
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What is The Great British Bake Off?
The Great British Bake Off, often called Bake Off or GBBO, is a baking competition that takes place in a big tent in the British countryside. Each week, the contestants are given three challenges:
- The Signature Bake: This is where bakers show off their own recipes and creativity.
- The Technical Challenge: Here, everyone gets the same basic recipe with very few instructions, testing their pure baking skills.
- The Showstopper: This is the grand finale of the week, where bakers create amazing, often huge, bakes that look incredible and taste even better.
After all the bakes are judged, one person is named the "Star Baker" for that week. Sadly, one person also has to leave the tent. This continues until only three bakers are left for the grand finale, where one is crowned the winner!
The Bakers of The Great British Bake Off
Many amazing bakers have joined the show over the years, each bringing their unique skills and personalities to the tent. They come from all walks of life, from students to retired people, and from all over the UK. Let's look at some of the winners and how the show has changed.
Early Years on BBC (2010–2016)
The show started on the BBC, and it quickly became a huge hit! The "Star Baker" award, which celebrates the best baker of the week, was first introduced in the second series in 2011.
- Series 1 (2010) Winner: Edd Kimber
Edd Kimber was the very first winner of The Great British Bake Off. He was a debt collector before joining the show and showed everyone his amazing baking talent.
- Series 2 (2011) Winner: Joanne "Jo" Wheatley
Jo Wheatley was a housewife when she won the second series. She impressed the judges with her delicious bakes. This was also the first series where the "Star Baker" award was given out!
- Series 3 (2012) Winner: John Whaite
John Whaite was a law student when he won. He showed that even busy students can be fantastic bakers.
- Series 4 (2013) Winner: Frances Quinn
Frances Quinn, a children's clothes designer, won with her creative and artistic bakes. She was known for making her creations look as good as they tasted.
- Series 5 (2014) Winner: Nancy Birtwhistle
Nancy Birtwhistle, a retired practice manager, proved that age is just a number when it comes to baking. She won with her consistent and skillful bakes.
- Series 6 (2015) Winner: Nadiya Hussain
Nadiya Hussain became a household name after winning this series. Her emotional win and incredible baking skills made her a fan favorite. She was a full-time mother before the show.
- Series 7 (2016) Winner: Candice Brown
Candice Brown, a PE teacher, won the last series to air on the BBC. She was known for her bold flavors and perfectly presented bakes.
New Home on Channel 4 (2017–Present)
In 2017, The Great British Bake Off moved to a new channel, Channel 4. The show continued to be just as popular, with new bakers joining the tent each year.
- Series 8 (2017) Winner: Sophie Faldo
Sophie Faldo, a former army officer, was the first winner on Channel 4. She showed great precision and skill in her baking.
- Series 9 (2018) Winner: Rahul Mandal
Rahul Mandal, a research scientist, won with his incredibly detailed and often adorable bakes. He was known for being very precise and sometimes a little nervous!
- Series 10 (2019) Winner: David Atherton
David Atherton, an international health adviser, won without ever being named "Star Baker" during the series. This shows that consistency and improvement throughout the competition can lead to victory!
- Series 11 (2020) Winner: Peter Sawkins
Peter Sawkins, an accounting and finance student, was the youngest winner at just 20 years old. He impressed everyone with his Scottish-inspired bakes.
- Series 12 (2021) Winner: Giuseppe Dell'Anno
Giuseppe Dell'Anno, a chief engineer, brought his Italian heritage to his bakes and won with his amazing flavors and techniques.
- Series 13 (2022) Winner: Syabira Yusoff
Syabira Yusoff, a cardiovascular research associate, won with her unique and creative flavor combinations, often inspired by her Malaysian background.
- Series 14 (2023) Winner: Matty Edgell
Matty Edgell, a teacher, won the most recent series. He showed great improvement throughout the competition and impressed the judges with his final bakes.
The bakers on The Great British Bake Off come from all sorts of backgrounds, but they all share a passion for baking. Each series brings new challenges and new stars to the baking world!
See also
- List of The Great British Bake Off finalists
- List of The Great British Bake Off Star Bakers
