THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, Sundays, Starting December 28
The 10-week series provides a delicious appetizer to fifth season of DOWNTON ABBEY on MASTERPIECE, beginning January 4
EVEN A CASUAL reader of the British papers in 2014 could not avoid noting the latest British television obsession – The Great British Bake Off. The culinary competition show has taken Blighty by storm over the past year, becoming the highest-rated food show ever made in Britain.
And the good news for local ex-pat viewers is that the show is coming to American shores on PBS.
Re-dubbed The Great British Baking Show, and debuting on Sunday December 28th, the show features renowned British bakers Mary Berry, the U.K.’s “doyenne of baking” and a leading cookbook writer, and Paul Hollywood, one of Britain’s top artisan bakers, who serve as the series’ judges. Together with hosts and comic foils Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, Berry and Hollywood search for the country’s best amateur bakers by testing their competitors’ skills on cakes, breads, pastries and desserts of all kinds, ultimately crowning a winner after 10 weeks of competition. The series is produced by Love Productions, a U.K. and U.S. based production company that has made several award-wining series in both the United Kingdom and the U.S.
In each episode, the challenges come in three categories: the Signature Bake that tests the bakers’ personality, creative flair and baking ability; the Technical Bake, when bakers are given one basic recipe, with the same ingredients and instructions, but no other guidance; and the Showstopper Bake, in which the competitors showcase their depth of skill and talent. In this category, judges seek the most impressive and elaborate creations — which must taste first-class, too.
The show will also be available to stream through PBS stations’ video sites each morning after broadcast, including video.pbs.org, PBS station-branded digital platforms, such as ROKU, Apple TV and Xbox, and on PBS iPad and iPhone apps. Throughout the season, fans can visit PBS Food (pbs.org/food) to learn more about the contestants and get exclusive recipes, photos and video clips from the program. The program will also be available for digital download.
