WHAT IS GOOD - the great british bake off

The Great British Bake Off is the ultimate baking battle where passionate amateur baking fans compete to be crowned the UK's Best Amateur Baker. Over the next 10 weeks, our 12 keen bakers – young, old and from every corner of the country – will mix and bake their way through progressively tougher challenges. They will be under the eye of our presenters Mel and Sue, and our judges - renowned cookery writer and baker, Mary Berry and Master Baker Paul Hollywood. The experts will inspect, prod and sample the baked goodies and decide who gets to have their cake – and eat it.

Over the course of 6 hour-long episodes, the series follows the trials and tribulations of the competitors, young and old, from every background and every corner of Britain, as they attempt to prove their baking prowess. Each week the bakers tackle a different baking skill, which become progressively more difficult as the competition unfolds.

The Challenges

Signature Bake:
Testing the bakers' personality, creative flair and baking ability, the main challenge here is to produce something cute, rustic and altogether home-made-looking. It's in this test that the Bakers get to show off their tried-and-tested handcooked bites.

Techincal Bake:
This challenge separates the wheat from the chaff. Take one basic recipe, with the same ingredients and instructions, and ask our bakers to produce the finished product... sound easy? Well, any variation on the finished product will be a result of their own technical knowledge and experience - or lack of. Bakers are laid bare in this task and this is where the pressure's really on in the bake-off.

Showstopper Bake:
The oven gloves are off in this final challenge where the bakers are able to showcase their depth of skill and talent. The complexities of this task call for a professional standard in taste and appearance. Are they up to it? The judges will be looking for the most impressive and elaborate creations – that better taste first-class too.

The Presenters

Mel Giedroyc:

Writer and performer, Mel Giedroyc, started her career as half of the hugely successful double-act, Mel and Sue. Shortlisted for the Best Newcomers Award at the Edinburgh Festival, Mel and Sue went on to write material for French and Saunders before hosting their own show, “Light Lunch”, which later became “Late Lunch”. When the duo separated to work on individual projects, Mel worked on a range of programmes including co-presenting a daytime chat show and starring in a BBC sitcom. Mel also appeared in three series of the twice BAFTA-nominated cult sketch show “Sorry I've Got No Head” as well as the West End musical “Eurobeat”. More recently, Mel has appeared in the popular teen drama, “Sadie J”. Both Mel and Sue have appeared on the award-winning radio show, “Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show.” Mel also presents “The 4 o’clock Show” daily on Radio 4 Extra.

Sue Perkins:

Writer, presenter and broadcaster, the hugely talented Sue Perkins has been a firm favourite on British television for nearly fifteen years. Together with her presenting partner, Mel Giedroyc, she entertained the nation with her unique brand of wit on the popular “Light Lunch”. In recent years, Sue has worked on a wide range of solo projects, including documentaries on art, popular fiction and history. In 2008 she appeared on the BBC show Maestro, which she won, culminating in her conducting at The Last Night of the Proms. She has also collaborated with the food critic, Giles Coren, on The Supersizers series, experiencing food from a variety of historical periods, including sow's udder pate, Bovine Bread and Butter Pudding, Duck Tongues and several thousand bottles of wine. Sue also appears regularly on Radio 4 shows Just a Minute and The News Quiz.

The Judges

Mary Berry:

With nearly sixty years cooking experience, Mary Berry is considered to be the doyenne of baking. Having learnt the art of baking from her mother, Mary quickly established herself as a leading cookery writer and broadcaster. Over the years, she has published 70 cookery books which have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Mary’s personal favourite cake to make is a ginger treacle tray bake. However, most people tell her that they enjoy baking her lemon drizzle cake. In addition to her baking expertise, Mary has also garnered a reputation for providing practical recipes containing lots of fresh ingredients for the family.

Paul Hollywood:

Paul Hollywood is one of the UK’s leading artisan bakers. The son of a baker, Paul originally trained as a sculptor until his father persuaded him to change careers. By combining his love of sculpting and baking, Paul established himself as an innovator. During his time as head baker, Paul worked in some of the most exclusive hotels in the world including the Dorchester in London. He cemented his reputation as the leading authority on bread making by publishing the best-selling book “100 Great Breads” which has been translated into seven languages.

Series 1

In our first series, the search began for the country's top home baker. Ten passionate cooks travelled the country, baking cakes in the Cotswolds, biscuits in Scotland, bread in Sandwich, puddings in Bakewell and pastry in Cornwall before a grand final in London. The series also traced the history of British baking: visiting local baking landmarks and discovering why we bake what we bake today. And the winner was Edward.

Series 2

Over eight weeks, 12 of the Britain's best amateur bakers will show-off their cake-baking, pastry- and bread-making and patisserie skills as they are challenged to make everything from the perfect tarte au citron to towers of macaroons, and from iced fingers to family pies. But only one can become Britain’s Best Amateur Baker. That's the icing on the cake! All the challenges are devised and judged by legendary cookery writer and baker Mary Berry and acclaimed Master Baker Paul Hollywood. The winner was Joanne Wheatley.

Series 3

Over ten weeks, twelve of the country’s best amateur bakers face challenges offered up by the King and Queen of baking, legendary cookery writer Mary Berry and Master Baker Paul Hollywood. Giving the bakers support whilst licking their mixing bowls clean are Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins who continue to host the proceedings. The Great British Bake Off returns for a third series with cakes, pies, breads and the odd kitchen disaster.