With its soggy sponges and three-tier showstoppers, the BBC’s Great British Bake Off has come to an end. After seven series and countless weeks of showing the nation all of Britain’s finest baking, Bake Off will be moving to Channel 4 and there is no doubt that there will be some significant changes to one of the public’s most beloved shows. We’ve sat through years of innovative and colourful cake designs. We’ve even witnessed some of the biggest baking meltdowns. But I can’t help wonder, are these really the best bakers that Britain has to offer?
Over baked and overrated, this series quickly grew tiresome with an overall lack of sophistication and presentation from the bakers. Biscuit week is a fine example of one of the show’s many disasters (I think we all wept in frustration at the greatest gingerbread house failure of the century). With Louise’s biscuit church resembling the aftermath of a house in an earthquake and Rav’s Christmas fairground looking more like a Christmas nightmare, one would have thought that the contestants had never even picked up a recipe book in their lives. Let’s also not forget the mess that came during week 5, with Val’s undercooked and inedible tarts.
With the recurring theme of mishap and misfortune, can we really categorise this as quality baking? The constant look of disappointment and confusion on Paul Hollywood’s face would allow me to assume that the judges also shared my distaste for this year’s showstoppers. It’s certainly puzzling as to how they managed to elect a star baker each week – of course the contestants could always rely on winning Mary’s favour by lacing the cakes with liquor (as Tom and Benjamina quickly discovered). Yet whilst disaster is expected to occur during the early stages of the competition, raw mixture and under baked pastries in the semi final are a call for concern especially at such a late stage. Perhaps it’s just the pressure and overwhelming fear of failing causing the bakers to slip up. Or maybe it’s Paul and Mary’s constant glares from across the tent that evokes a sense of nervousness in the atmosphere. But it’s fair to say that Bake Off isn’t at the same standard it used to be. Maybe it’s for the best that Channel 4 is taking over, a makeover is exactly what this programme needs right now.
However, on the better side of things, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The series did have its highlights. Selasi of course will forever remain in the nation’s heart with his laid back attitude and chilled approach to baking. Andrew’s botanical breakdown certainly had us all gripping the edges of our seats and Val flossing her pastry will remain an iconic moment in the tent’s history. Whilst it has still been an enjoyable series, let’s hope that next series brings not only entertainment but the best of British baking.

Rachael Dickinson

(Image courtesy of the BBC)