There is a certain comfort to baking bread, kneading dough, and frosting cakes. Sometimes, it’s even more exciting to watch others do so in action. That’s whatThe Great British Bake Offhas to offer - it’s a fairly simple premise. Now in its twelfth season, the hit Netflix series has amassed a large following in the states and across the pond. Featuring a shifting cast and occasional guest appearances fromcelebrities like James McAvoy and Daisy Ridley, fans keep tuning in for more.
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Dedicated fans know that judgePaul Hollywoodruns “Bread Week” and hostMatt Lucaswill offer jokes and comfort to any contestant in distress. But not all experiences in the tent are the same. Here’s how the different seasons ofThe Great British Bake Offstack up to one another.
12. Season 1
WhenThe Great British Bake Offfirst aired in 2010, it was just another baking competition in a sea of similar shows. HostsMel GiedroycandSue Perkinsalong with judgesMary Berryand Paul Hollywood brought the concept to life, and the rest is history. Though nowone of the best reality shows on Netflix, the series had to find its footing first.
The season which started it all looked wholly different from what fans expect now. For one, the tent moved locations for each episode based on that week’s theme. With only six episodes in total, this was the shortest season and did not include a Star Baker Prize. A lot has changed since then.
11. Season 4
Berry, Hollywood, Giedroyc, and Perkins returned for the fourth installment ofThe Great BritishBake Off. Despite having some of the highest ratingson BBC Two at the time(7.4 million on average), season 4 offered relatively routine challenges and bakes.
It’s not that the contestants were unlikeable - some even went on to pursue culinary careers afterward. There just wasn’t anything particularly memorable that happened as the show continued to develop itself into what audiences know now.
10. Season 2
By season 2, the show looked similar to what fans know now. A “Star Baker” was selected each week, and filming took place underneath one tent rather than multiple locations.
Still being aired on BBC Two, ratings were relatively low but still ranked in the number 1 and 2 slots on the network at the time. But these were still early days in the baking competition, and the hosts and judges were learning to work together in terms of that quintessential comedic charm that fans love.
9. Season 10
Season 10 was still learning to stand out amongst previous ones with new hostsNoel FieldingandSandi Toksvig. Between quality baking and likable contestants, this became another fan-favorite season.
Similar to season 4, this one began with 13 contestants and included a double elimination in one episode. Despite the high competition and developing prestige of the “Star Baker” title, the comedy and emotion in this season made it easy to watch.
8. Season 5
Let’s be honest, fans enjoy watching the drama that unfolds in reality competitions. Season 5 came to be defined by controversy and the infamous #BinGate incident. The events were made all the more dramatic by editing and the hosts’ commentary.
In the season’s fourth episode, contestant Diana Beard took opponent Ian Watter’s ice cream out of the freezer for “just a minute.” As a result, Watter’s could no longer use it in the challenge and he was subsequently eliminated that week. Hundreds of fans filed complaints to BBC over the incident, and Beard even gave her own version of the storyon BBC Radio Shropshire.
7. Season 3
Everyone knew whatThe Great British Bake Offwould entail by season 3. Contestants began their journey with “Cake Week” followed by “Bread Week,” “Biscuit Week,” and more. The hosts knew how to make the tent more enjoyable with one-liners and jokes, and the judges brought the drama.
RELATED:9 Best Baking Shows of All TimeViewership also went up from previous seasons and rose to a steady average of 4-5 million. Meanwhile, the season 3 finale drew in over 6 million people (more than any other show in that time slot).
6. Season 7
By nowThe Great British Bake Offwas gaining momentum and aired across channels of BBC, Netflix, and PBS. Season 7 was the last to air on BBC One after switching to Channel 4 in the UK.
It was sad to see longtime hosts Perkins and Giedroyc go along with judge Berry. But with a stellar cast of competitors and heartwarming moments in the tent, it all came together well in the end. Fans certainly agreed as well, given that the season finale drew in a record 15.9 million viewers.
5. Season 12
Viewership may have dipped slightly at the start of season 12, but the show still managed to take a top ten spot on Netflix when it first aired. The most recent season ofThe Great British Bake Offbrought back playful hosts Fielding and Lucas who work great together.
On top of that, contestants brought top skills and passion to the tent - which is necessary after 12 years of watching a similar format.
4. Season 8
Lots of changes were in store for season 8 ofThe Great British Bake Off. The series moved channels, new hosts Noah Fielding and Lucas signed on, and Prue Leith replaced longtime judge Mary Berry.
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The season brought in a regular 8-9 million viewers and peakedin the finale with 10 million viewers. It looks like all those adjustments to the series paid off, and it was only the beginning of a new era for the show.
3. Season 6
If nothing else, season 6 shone bright amongst the others for one single reason: winnerNadiya Hussain’sevolution as a baker. “Sheer perfection and I have enjoyed every minute,” Berry said of Nadiyain the final episode.
But it’s not just Nadiya who wowed the judges. Each week, the contestants made eliminations difficult with one great bake after the next. More than 15 million viewers tuned in to the season 6 finale, and clearly, there’s a reason for that.
