When you’re a competition show on the airwaves for 16 years, you have to innovate.
The Great British Baking Show has certainly evolved since it premiered on BBC Two in August 2010, when it was a weird traveling competition with cutaways to historical context and Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry baking. It was all weird, and sometimes boring. Thankfully, over its nearly 20-year run, the series improved.
This season, something new came into the tent and should become a staple for the rest of the series: Audience Choice Week.
Audience Choice Week introduces three distinct innovations to the traditional format.
The Signature Challenge: A baked cheesecake might not sound like an innovation, but baking it with a family member, especially one who might not be culinarily inclined, is a hell of a challenge.
The Technical Challenge: Hands down, the episode’s best innovation. The “mystery box” concept lets bakers make anything they want, with a plethora of ingredients to choose from. However, there’s no recipe. So it’s all freehand, guesswork and, as Deadpool would say, “educated wishes.”
The Showstopper: The audience chooses a “wearable bake.” The contestants must create bakes that someone can actually wear. The sheer brilliance on display here is jaw-dropping. Some creations, like Connie’s cake inspired by the hat her mother wore to her wedding, are both aesthetically pleasing and deeply emotional.
Brassy Portuguese baker Clara’s “Piña Couture Handbag” is the rightful winner, as it not only pleases Paul’s love for a Piña Colada but is also a marvel of baking architecture. Honorable mention goes to Tom’s (last week’s Star Baker) “Serving Dolly’s Wig” cake, which looks like an edible wig Dolly Parton could’ve worn.
Sadly, the extremely affable and likable Shannon is the one sent home. She’s one of those contestants who is obviously going to be eliminated because of her performance, but you hate to see them go because of their personality.
Ultimately, Audience Choice Week for this season of The Great British Baking Show is a gigantic success. Gorgeous bakes happened. The banter is on point. Nigella Lawson continues to ease into her judge role, and a new favorite concept is introduced. Next week is Bread Week, and any baker knows the pain that comes with that.
The Great British Baking Show “Audience Week” is now streaming on Netflix.
