The Great British Bake Off (series 1)

Series 1 of The Great British Bake Off, aired on BBC 2 saw ten home bakers take 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 keen bakers put through three challenges in a particular discipline. The rounds 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 Bakers

Results summary

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 the series runner-up

     – Baker was the series winner

Episodes

     Baker eliminated      Winner

Episode 1: Cakes

Cotswolds

Episode 2: Biscuits

Scone Palace, Perthshire

Episode 3: Bread

Sarre Windmill, Kent

Episode 4: Puddings

Bakewell, Derbyshire

Episode 5: Pastry

Mousehole, Cornwall

Episode 6: Tea Party (Final)

Fulham Palace, London.

In the final, a baker was eliminated after the first bake, and only two bakers competed in the final day.

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 two books on baking, The Boy Who Bakes and Say It With Cake.^[7] His third book, Patisserie Made Simple: From Macaron to Millefeuille and More, was published on 16 October 2014. He has taught macaroon 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]

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]

Specials

References