The Great British Bake Off, often referred to as Bake Off or GBBO, is a BAFTA award-winning British television baking competition first shown by BBC Two on 17 August 2010. It is presented by Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, and judged by cookery writer Mary Berry and professional baker Paul Hollywood. Aired under the name The Great British Baking Show in the United States, the competition selects from amongst its contestants the best amateur baker.
 
The programme operates on a weekly elimination process to find the best all-around baker from the contestants who are all amateurs. The applicants to the show are assessed by a researcher, followed by an audition in London with two of their bakes. They then undergo a screen test and an interview with a producer. A second audition involves the applicants baking two recipes for judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood in front of the cameras. Ten contestants were chosen for the first series, twelve for the following two series, thirteen for the fourth, and back to twelve for the fifth and sixth.
 
In each episode, the amateur bakers are given three challenges: a signature bake, a technical challenge, and a show-stopper. The three challenges take place over two days, and the filming takes up to 16 hours a day. The contestants are assessed by the judges who then choose a "Star Baker" for the week (introduced in series 2), and a contestant is also eliminated. In the final round, three bakers are left and a winner is chosen from the three.
 
Signature Challenge
This challenge is for the amateur bakers to show off their tried-and-tested recipes for bakes they might make for their friends and family.
 
Technical Challenge
This challenge requires enough technical knowledge and experience to produce a certain finished product when given only limited – or even minimal – instructions. The bakers are all given the same recipe and are not told beforehand what the challenge will be. The finished products are judged blind and ranked from worst to best.
 
Showstopper Challenge
This challenge is for the bakers to show off their skills and talent.
 
The judges favor a bake that is both of a professional appearance but is also outstanding in taste.In the first series, the location of the cast and crew move from town to town each week, but starting from the second series, the competition is held in one location in a specially constructed marquee. Interspersed in the programme are the background of the contestants as well as video vignettes on the history of baking. What each baker intends to bake during a particular challenge is illustrated using animated graphics. These graphics have been created by illustrator Tom Hovey since the show's inception in 2010.

Loved watching this particularly for the savoury and bread making week. Being into likes of crackers and pies it was great to see what the bakers came up with. ...

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