U.K.’s Smash-Hit Competition Series Returns to PBS After Acclaimed First Season ‒
One of British television’s biggest hits in recent years returns to PBS on Sunday night. Season four of the Great British Baking Show (known as The Great British Bake Off in the UK) can be seen Sunday September 6th at 7pm.
Renowned British bakers Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood 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 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 the award-winning, U.K.-based Love Productions. The U.K. series became the highest-rated food show ever made in Britain.
Each week, the bakers from diverse backgrounds tackle a different skill, the difficulty of which increases as the competition unfolds. In each episode, the challenges come in three categories: a Signature Bake that tests the bakers’ personality, creative flair and baking ability; a Technical Bake, in which all bakers are given the same basic recipe, with ingredients and minimal instructions; and the Showstopper Bake, in which the competitors must display refined depths of skill and talent.
With nearly 60 years of cooking experience, judge Mary Berry is considered Britain’s “doyenne of baking.” Having learned the art from her mother, the adult Berry quickly established herself as a leading food writer and broadcaster. Over the years, she has published 70 cookbooks that are enjoyed by millions around the world. In 2012, Berry’s contribution to the culinary arts was recognized by the queen — she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honors. Paul Hollywood is one of the U.K.’s leading artisan bakers. The son of a baker, Hollywood trained as a sculptor until his father persuaded him to change careers. By combining his artistic and culinary passions, Hollywood has established himself as an innovator. During his time as head baker, he worked in some of the world’s most exclusive hotels, including the Dorchester in London. He cemented his reputation as a leading authority by publishing the best-selling 100 Great Breads, which to date has been translated into seven languages.
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