THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, the food show phenomenon in the U.S. and abroad, returns for a fourth season on PBS on Friday, June 16. Known as much for its perfect “scrummy” patisseries as for its “soggy bottom” failures, the baking competition will air Friday nights at 9:00 p.m. (check local listings). This upcoming season on PBS was the most recently aired in the UK, and it received the highest-ever viewership for the series.
The show follows amateur bakers from diverse backgrounds who tackle culinary trials that increase in difficulty as the competition unfolds. In each episode, challenges come in three categories: a Signature Bake, to test the contestants’ creative flair and baking ability; a Technical Bake, in which challengers receive basic recipes with ingredient lists and minimal instruction; and the Showstopper Bake, designed to display depth of skill and talent.
As in past seasons, contestants will be judged by Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, two icons of British baking. With nearly 60 years of cooking experience, Berry established herself as a leading food writer and broadcaster. Over her career, she has published 70 cookbooks that have sold millions of copies around the world. She was also appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) during the Queen’s 2012 Birthday Honors. The son of a baker, Paul Hollywood is one of the U.K.’s leading artisan bread makers. Though trained as a sculptor, he was persuaded by his father to join the family business and to combine both his artistic and culinary talents. Hollywood has worked in some of the world’s most exclusive hotels, including London’s Dorchester. He published the best-selling 100 Great Breads, which to date has been translated into seven languages. Comedy duo Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc are the series hosts who keep the contestants and judges grounded, providing the right balance of humor, support and naughtiness.
This season kicks off with back to back episodes. The first, titled Cake, sees the 12 bakers testing their baking skills as they tackle a back-to-basics British classic, a popular cake with a fatless sponge and tricky chocolate work.
The second episode, Biscuits (10pm), ask the contestants to make 24 elaborately decorated biscuits; a biscuit that requires perfect piping; and a biscuit structure that demands precision baking.
It’s all great stuff, and will doubtless have you salivating over some of the creations and leave you hungry for more.
