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 has improved.
This season, something new came into the tent and should become a staple for the rest of the series: Audience Week.
Audience Week introduced three distinct innovations to the traditional Bake Off 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 let bakers make anything they wanted, 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 Bake Off audience chose a “wearable bake.” The contestants had to create bakes that someone could actually wear. The sheer brilliance on display here was jaw-dropping. Some creations, like Connie’s “Mother of the Bride” cake inspired by the hat her mother wore to her wedding, were both aesthetically pleasing and deeply emotional. Brassy Portuguese baker Clara’s “Piña Couture Handbag” was the rightful winner, as it not only pleased Paul Hollywood’s love for a Piña Colada but was also a marvel of baking architecture. Honorable mention goes to Tom’s (last week’s Star Baker) “Serving Dolly’s Wig” cake, which looked like an edible wig Dolly Parton could’ve worn.
Sadly, the extremely affable and likable Shannon was sent home. She’s one of those Bake Off contestants who was obviously going to be eliminated because of her performance, but you hate to see them go because of their personality.
Ultimately, Audience Week for this season of the Great British Baking Show was a gigantic success. Gorgeous bakes happened. The banter was on point. Nigella continues to ease into her role, and a new favorite concept was introduced. Next week is Bread Week, and we all know the pain that comes with that.
The Great British Baking Show “Audience Week” is now streaming on Netflix.
