A historic victory for David Atherton in series ten
In short: Thirteen bakers competed when series ten of The Great British Bake Off premiered on 27 August 2019. In a surprising turn, winner David Atherton became the first champion in the show's history to have never previously won the coveted Star Baker title.
The tenth series of The Great British Bake Off, which premiered on 27 August 2019, introduced several structural changes. The competition began with 13 bakers instead of the standard 12, necessitating a double elimination in one episode, a format last seen in the fourth series. The judging panel remained consistent with returning hosts Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, alongside judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The competition featured runners-up Alice Fevronia and Steph Blackwell. This specific season's format meant one episode required a double elimination.
The challenges throughout the series tested extreme precision and cultural breadth. For example, the technical challenges included recreating Tudor-era Maids of Honours, Sicilian Cassatelles, and Moroccan brik pastry. The showstopper challenges grew increasingly complex, ranging from 3D biscuit sculptures to a deceptive illusion picnic basket feast in the final, which required 4.5 hours to complete. Bakers also faced tasks like making 12 decorated chocolate biscuit bars and a display of Indian Mishti sweets. One challenge required creating a cocktail-themed cake to honour the American prohibition era.
The series saw significant viewership fluctuations. An initial overnight viewership of 5.7 million was recorded; while this was 400,000 fewer than before, the audience share rose to 30.6%. By the final episode, the average audience reached 6.9 million viewers, despite a drop of over half a million compared to the previous series' finale. Critics like Michael Hogan of The Daily Telegraph were less enthusiastic, labeling the series 'forgettable' and 'dullest' among the first ten series, citing a lack of diversity and a 'blandly millennial' cast. The final episode's contestants had to produce six twice-baked stilton soufflés. Additionally, the series included two festive specials broadcast on Christmas and New Year's Day.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Great British Bake Off series 10
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-the-great-british-bake-off-series-10.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
