The Great British Bake Off (series 1)

The first series of The Great British Bake Off first aired on BBC Two on 17 August 2010. Ten home bakers took part in a bake-off to test every aspect of their baking skills as they battled to be crowned the Great British Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each week the nationwide tour saw bakers put through three challenges in a particular discipline, with some being eliminated from competition at the end of the episode. The rounds of the competition took place in various locations across the UK following a theme, for example, the episode on puddings would take place in Bakewell, bread baking would take place near Sandwich.[1][2] This first series had a voiceover by Stephen Noonan; for the subsequent series this role was taken by the on-screen presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. The competition was won by Edd Kimber.[3][4][5]

The Great British Bake Off
Season 1
Starring	Mel Giedroyc Sue Perkins Mary Berry Paul Hollywood
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	6
Release
Original network	BBC Two
Original release	17 August (2010-08-17) – 21 September 2010 (2010-09-21)
Series chronology

Bakers

Baker	Age	Occupation	Hometown
Annetha Mills	30	Midwife	Essex
David Chambers	31	Entrepreneur	Milton Keynes
Edward "Edd" Kimber	24	Debt collector for Yorkshire Bank	Bradford
Jasminder Randhawa	45	Assistant Credit Control Manager	Birmingham
Jonathan Shepherd	25	Research Analyst	St Albans
Lea Harris	51	Retired	Midlothian, Scotland
Louise Brimelow	44	Police Officer	Manchester
Mark Whithers	48	Bus Driver	South Wales
Miranda Gore Browne	37	Food buyer for Marks & Spencer	Midhurst, West Sussex
Ruth Clemens	31	Retail manager/Housewife	Poynton, Cheshire

Results summary

Elimination chart
Baker	1	2	3	4	5	6
Edd						WINNER
Ruth						Runner-up
Miranda						Runner-up
Jasminder					OUT
David				OUT
Jonathan			OUT
Annetha		OUT
Louise		OUT
Lea	OUT
Mark	OUT

Colour key:

     – Baker got through to the next round

     – Baker was eliminated

     – 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

     – Baker was a series runner-up

     – Baker was the series winner

Episodes

     - Baker eliminated

     - Winner

Episode 1: Cakes

For the first challenge, the bakers were instructed to bake any cake they want using their creativity within 3 hours. It has to be evenly baked, evenly risen, and moist. For the technical challenge, the bakers were to make a Victorian Sandwich using Mary Berry's recipe. For the final challenge, the showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a Chocolate Celebration Cake, with perfect execution, original ideas and their own flair.

Cotswolds

Baker	Signature (Cake)	Technical (Victoria Sandwich)	Showstopper (Chocolate Celebration Cake)
Annetha	Light Jamaican Black Cake with Strawberries and Cream	2nd	Red, White & Blue Chocolate Cake with Cigarellos, Fresh Fruit, and Cream
David	Chocolate Orange Cake	3rd	Black Forest Floor Gateaux with Moulded Chocolate Leaves, Fallen Fruit and Chocolate Mushrooms Moulded from eggs
Edd	Caramel Cinnamon and Banana Cake	1st	N/A
Jasminder	Fresh Mango and Passion Fruit Hummingbird Cake	N/A	N/A
Jonathan	Carrot Cake with Lime and Cream Cheese Icing	9th	Three Tiered White and Dark Chocolate with Almond and Cherry
Lea	Cranberry and Pistachio Cake with Orange Flower Water Icing	10th	Raspberries and Cream filled Chocolate with Chocolate-dipped Fresh Fruit
Louise	Carrot and Orange Cake	N/A	Never Fail Chocolate Sponge Cake, with Fresh Fruit, White & Chocolate Cigarello Border
Mark	Sticky Marmalade Tea Loaf	N/A	Heart-shaped Chocolate and Beetroot Cake with Store-Bought silver chocolate hearts and chocolate red and white roses.
Miranda	Triple Layered Brownie Meringue Cake with Raspberry Cream	8th	Three Tiered Chocolate Fudge Cake with Handmade Chocolate Button Decorations
Ruth	Three Tiered Lemon Drizzle Cake with Fresh Cream and freshly made Lemon Curd	N/A	Classic Chocolate Sponge wrapped in a Chocolate Collar topped with Handmade White and Dark Chocolate Truffles

Episode 2: Biscuits

For the signature bake, the bakers were asked to bake their Personality Biscuits within 2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake scones using Paul Hollywood's recipe within an hour. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake Petit Fours; Meringues, Choux Pastry, and Macarons, within 4 hours.

Scone Palace, Perthshire

Baker	Signature (Biscuits)	Technical (Scones)	Showstopper (Petit fours; Meringues, Choux Pastry and Macarons)
Annetha	Rose Petal Shortbread	7th	Pink Swirl Macarons / Eclairs
David	Cheddar Cheese and Fresh Rosemary Biscuits	8th	Choux Pastry Swans Chocolate Profiteroles
Edd	Oatmeal Raisin Cookie	6th	Pink Macarons
Jasminder	Millionaires' Shortbread	2nd	Meringues with Chocolate and Space Dust Coffee flavoured Eclairs
Jonathan	Honey and Candied Ginger Cookies	1st	Meringues with Whiskey Cream
Louise	Stained Glass Window Shortbread	4th	Strawberry, Mint, and Cream Meringues Chocolate Eclairs / Orange, Yellow and Pink Macarons
Miranda	Fresh Vanilla Biscuits with Royal Icing	3rd	Pistachio Macarons
Ruth	Peanut Shortbread with Salted Peanut Caramel	5th	Almond Macaron with Violet Buttercream Raspberries and Cream Eclairs

Episode 3: Bread

For their signature bake, the bakers were asked to bake their signature bread within 3 1/2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a cob using Paul's recipe within 2 1/2 hours. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake 12 sweet rolls and 12 savoury rolls. They can have at least 3 flavours and 6 hours.

Sarre Windmill, Kent

Baker	Signature (Breads)	Technical (Cobs)	Showstopper (12 Sweet and 12 Savoury Rolls)
David	Chilli Bread	4th	Walnut and Seed Roll Red Berry and Almond Bun
Edd	Olive Bread	1st	Tomato and Mozzarella
Jasminder	Focaccia	5th	Mango and Sultana Buns Pan au Chocolat with Mars Bars Tutti Frutti Wheel with Jelly Tots
Jonathan	Anchovy, Sweet Paprika and Oregano Bread	6th	Sticky Lemon Honey Bun Olive and Anchovy Roll Sundried Tomatoes and Fresh Herbs Roll Stilton, Walnut and Apple Roll Cinnamon and Cardamom Chelsea Bun
Miranda	Walnut and Apricot Bread	3rd	Lemon Iced Buns Chocolate and Orange Buns
Ruth	Maple and Pecan Bread	2nd	Chocolate and Orange Panettone Cranberry Bagels

Episode 4: Puddings

For the first challenge, the bakers were asked to bake their own classic pudding, steamed or baked. They had 2 1/2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a lemon souffle using Mary's recipe within 40 minutes. The bakers started to bake at different time intervals. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake 3 puddings: crumble, bread, and suet, in 5 hours.

Bakewell, Derbyshire

Baker	Signature (Puddings)	Technical (Hot Lemon Soufflé)	Showstopper (3 Puddings; Crumble, Bread, and Suet)
David	Pear and Walnut Pudding	5th	Apple and Blackberry Crumble, Rhubarb and Orange Betty, Suet Pear
Edd	Apple and Plum Pudding	3rd	Apple and Cinnamon Crumble, Nutella Banana Brioche Bread Pudding, Rhubarb and Strawberry Suet Layer
Jasminder	Sticky Toffee Pudding with Tropical Fruit & Toffee Sauce	2nd	Bread & Butter Pudding, Treacle Suet Pudding with Fresh Fruit, Apple and Pineapple Crumble
Miranda	Sticky Toffee Pudding	1st	Queen of Puddings, Chocolate Pear Roly Poly, Strawberry and Rhubarb Crumble
Ruth	Peach and Blueberry Boy Bait	4th	Apple & Ginger Crumble, Rhubarb Suet Crust, Cherry Queen of Puddings

Episode 5: Pastry

For the signature challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a savoury pie in 2 1/2 hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake 4 Cornish pasties in 1 1/2 hours. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake 2 pastry platters; savory and sweet tartlets, in 5 hours.

Mousehole, Cornwall

Baker	Signature (Pies)	Technical (Cornish Pasties)	Showstopper (Tarts and Canapés)
Edd	Chicken, Ham, Leek and Tarragon Pie	2nd	Almond Sweet Pastry with Ginger and Chocolate Raspberry Tart / Yorkshire Curd Tart Chickpea and Salami, Red and Yellow Pepper, Asparagus Gruyere Quiche Canapés
Jasminder	Chicken and Mushroom Pie	4th	Jaggery, Carrot, and Spiced Condensed Milk Tart Fruit and Custard Tart Thai Chili Red Onion, Duck in Plum Sauce, Salmon and Prawn Canapés
Miranda	Summery Salmon, Cod and Prawn Fish Pie	1st	Chocolate Pastry filled with Orange Cheesecake Chocolate Pastry filled with Milk Chocolate Ganache Strawberry Tart with Red Currant Glaze Cheesy Crab, Broad Bean and Tomato, Pancetta Risotto Canapés
Ruth	Minced Beef Pie	3rd	Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Tart Creme Patisserie and Cherry Tart Citrus Curd Tart with Creme Brulee Top Tomato, Asparagus Twirl Canapés

Episode 6: Tea Party (Final)

In the final, a baker was eliminated after the first bake, and only two bakers competed in the final day. For the first challenge, the 3 finalists were asked to bake 24 miniature cake in 2 1/2 hours. For the final challenge, the 2 finalists were asked to bake 24 miniature tarts, 24 scones, 24 choux buns, and 24 finger sandwiches in 5 hours.

Fulham Palace, London

Baker	Signature (24 Professional Cupcakes)	Showstopper (Petit Fours)
Edd	Cinnamon and Banana Cake	Chocolate and Ginger Tarts Lemon Scones with Passion Fruit Curd Raspberry Choux Buns Finger Sandwiches
Miranda	Lemon Cupcake	N/A
Ruth	Mint, Ginger and Blackberry Cake	Red Pepper and Cheese Quiche Tarts Sultana Scones Vanilla and Lemon Choux Buns Finger Sandwiches

It took the judges nearly five hours to determine whom to eliminate, and had to look back at their performances over the series as a whole to make a decision. The idea of eliminating a contestant in the final was dropped from future series.

Post-show career

After winning the competition, Edd Kimber is able to make his living from baking.[6] He worked in the pastry kitchen at Raymond Blanc's restaurant Le Manoir. He has written three books on baking, The Boy Who Bakes, Say It With Cake,[7] and Patisserie Made Simple: From Macaron to Millefeuille and More. He has taught macaron making classes in London, run a pop-up bakery in Fortnum & Mason, and appeared as a 'resident baker' on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.[8]

Ruth Clemens has written a number of books on cake making and baking, including Busy Girls Guide to Cake Decorating, The Pink Whisk Guide to Cake Making, The Pink Whisk Guide to Baking and Creative Éclairs.[9][10]

Miranda Gore Browne wrote a book, Biscuit, published on 5 April 2012.[11] Her second book Bake Me a Cake as Fast as You Can was published in August 2014.[12]

Jonathan Shepherd left his job in the pharmaceutical company and launched a new business, The Pudding Stop, in St Albans.[13] It started as a portable street-food vendor and a supplier of puddings to restaurants.[14] Shepherd has since also opened a shop, also in St Albans.[15][16]

Mark Whithers, who was eliminated in Episode 1, died on 11 May 2013 after suffering from cancer.

The Great British Wedding Cake

In this one-off special edition on the series, the three finalists from series one (Edd, Ruth and Miranda) returned once more. Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry set them the ultimate challenge, to make and bake two spectacular Wedding Cakes each in just 16 hours, one being traditional and the other contemporary. Paul and Mary explore the history of the Great British Wedding Cake, looking at the dramatic changes through the eras; from the Tudors and the Victorians, wartime Britain and the eighties to the present day. Although Paul and Mary judged the results, no individual winner was declared.

Ratings

Official episode viewing figures are from BARB.[17]

Episode no.	Airdate	Viewers (millions)	BBC Two weekly ranking
1	17 August 2010 (2010-08-17)	2.24	7
2	24 August 2010 (2010-08-24)	3.00	3
3	31 August 2010 (2010-08-31)	3.00	2
4	7 September 2010 (2010-09-07)	2.60	4
5	14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)	3.03	1
6	21 September 2010 (2010-09-21)	2.75	1

Specials

Episode no.	Airdate	Viewers (millions)	BBC Two weekly ranking
The Great British Wedding Cake
	20 April 2011 (2011-04-20)	1.60	19

References

1. "The Great British Bake Off". TVDb.com.
2. Sarah Stephens (14 August 2012). "Behind the scenes at the Great British Bake-Off". The Daily Telegraph.
3. Sarah Rainey (9 December 2011). "Edd Kimber: the great British baker". The Daily Telegraph.
4. Aisha Iqbal (23 September 2010), "Leeds man wins BBC's Great British Bake-Off", Yorkshire Evening Post
5. Emma Clayton (23 September 2010), "Thackley baker Edd Kimber wins BBC TV's Great British Bake Off", Bradford Telegraph and Argus
6. "Edd Kimber and Jo Wheatley: Great British Bake Off changed our lives". Metro. 28 August 2012.
7. Daisy Wyatt (22 October 2013). "Great British Bake Off winners: Where are they now?". The Independent.
8. Jess Denham (7 October 2014). "Great British Bake Off 2014: What past winners are doing now from Edd Kimber to last year's Frances Quinn". The Independent.
9. "Poynton Mum in the Spotlight – Ruth Clemens – The Pink Whisk!". Mums in the Know. 2 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
10. "Interview with Ruth Clemens, The Pink Whisk". The Diary of a Cake Maker. 7 March 2014.
11. "Interview & cookbook giveaway: Miranda Gore Browne, Great British Bake Off". Peach Trees and Bumblebees. 13 June 2013.
12. Carolyn Hart (11 September 2014). "Cookbook of the Week: Bake Me A Cake As Fast As You Can". The Daily Telegraph.
13. Charlotte Morgan (9 September 2010). "St Albans baker takes the plunge with puddings". The Herts Advertiser.
14. Monique Hall (8 October 2012). "St Albans' Pudding Stop shortlisted for award". The Herts Advertiser.
15. Charlotte Morgan (19 August 2014). "Great British Bake Off: where are they now?".
16. "The Pudding Stop".
17. "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 16 September 2015.

External links

• The Great British Bake Off at BBC Programmes