The Great British Bake Off (series 12)

The Great British Bake Off
Series 12
British digital release
Starring	Noel Fielding Matt Lucas Paul Hollywood Prue Leith
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	10
Release
Original network	Channel 4
Original release	21 September (2021-09-21) – 23 November 2021 (2021-11-23)
Series chronology
← Previous Series 11

The twelfth series of The Great British Bake Off began airing on 21 September 2021.^[1] It is presented by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, and judged by returning judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The bakers were announced on 14 September 2021.^[2]

The series was won by Giuseppe Dell'Anno, with Chigs Parmar and Crystelle Pereira finishing as the runners-up. Dell'Anno is the first Italian winner of the programme.^[3][4]

Bakers[]

Baker[2]	Age	Occupation	Hometown	Links
Amanda Georgiou	56	Metropolitan Police detective	London	[5]
Chigs Parmar	40	Sales manager	Leicester	[6]
Crystelle Pereira	26	Client relationship manager	London	[7]
Freya Cox	19	Student	Scarborough, North Yorkshire	[8]
George Aristidou	34	Shared lives coordinator	London	[9]
Giuseppe Dell'Anno	45	Chief engineer	Bristol	[10]
Jairzinho Parris	51	Head of Finance	London	[11][12]
Jürgen Krauss	56	Physicist	Brighton, East Sussex	[13]
Lizzie Acker	28	Car production operative	Liverpool	[14][15]
Maggie	70	Retired nurse and midwife	Poole, Dorset	[16][17]
Rochica	27	Junior HR business partner	Birmingham	[18]
Tom Fletcher	28	Software developer	Maidstone, Kent	[19]

Results summary[]

Elimination chart
Baker	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Giuseppe			SB		SB					WINNER
Chigs				SB				SB		Runner-up
Crystelle						SB			SB	Runner-up
Jürgen	SB						SB		OUT
Lizzie								OUT
George							OUT
Amanda						OUT
Freya					OUT
Maggie				OUT
Rochica			OUT
Jairzinho		OUT
Tom	OUT

Colour key:

  Baker was one of the judges' least favourite bakers that week, but was not eliminated.

  Baker was one of the judges' favourite bakers that week, but was not the Star Baker.

  Baker got through to the next round.

  Baker was eliminated.

  Baker was the Star Baker.

  Baker was a series runner-up.

  Baker was the series winner.

Episodes[]

  Baker eliminated

  Star Baker

  Winner

Episode 1: Cake[]

For the signature challenge, the bakers were tasked with making 12 decorative mini rolls, in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Prue, required the bakers to make a malt loaf served with homemade butter, in two hours. In the showstopper challenge, the bakers were given four hours to create an anti-gravity illusion cake, representing a precious memory.

Baker	Signature (Mini Swiss Roll)	Technical (Malt Loaf)	Showstopper (Anti-Gravity Illusion Cake)
Amanda	'Cherry Soldier' Mini Rolls	12th	Elderflower & Lemon Surf Explosion
Chigs	Strawberries & Cream Mini Rolls	11th	'Where it All Began'
Crystelle	'Chai and Chai Again' Mini Rolls	8th	'Bouq-cake of Flowers'
Freya	Vegan Lemon & Raspberry Mini Rolls	2nd	'Flower Potty'
George	Chocolate & Hazelnut Mini Rolls	3rd	Greek Table
Giuseppe	Easter Mini Rolls	10th	'Jack and the Beanstalk'
Jairzinho	Lime & Passionfruit Mini Rolls	9th	‘Kick the Can’ Cake
Jürgen	'Schwarzwald' Mini Rolls	6th	'Night Time Reading'
Lizzie	'Zoo' Mini Rolls	4th	'Nana's Peaches & Cream'
Maggie	'Knit & Natter' Mini Rolls	1st	Ice-cream Cornet
Rochica	'Colin' Rolls	7th	Apple Cake
Tom	Black Forest Mini Rolls	5th	Classically Spectacular Showstopper

Episode 2: Biscuits[]

For the signature challenge, the bakers were tasked with making 24 identical brandy snaps, in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, required the bakers to make 12 sandwiched jammy biscuits, consisting of two baked biscuits, jam, and buttercream, in one hour and 45 minutes. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers needed to create a 3D biscuit replica of a favorite childhood toy. The replica needed to have an interactive element.

Baker	Signature (24 Brandy Snaps)	Technical (Sandwiched Jammy Biscuit)	Showstopper (3-D Childhood Toy)
Amanda	'Open Sesame' Brandy Snaps	4th	Carousel Rocking Horse
Chigs	'Espresso Martini' Brandy Snaps	7th	Snooker Table
Crystelle	’Apple of My P-eye' Brandy Snaps	10th	Vanity Playset
Freya	'Brandy Snapuccinos'	3rd	Winnie
George	Cypriot Brandy Snaps	8th	Paul and Prue Airlines
Giuseppe	Gianduja Snaps	2nd	Reversi Board Game
Jairzinho	Chocolate, Passion Fruit & Pineapple Brandy Snaps	9th	Tall Ship
Jürgen	'A Cup of Chai' Brandy Snaps	1st	Grandpa's Windmill
Lizzie	Fast-Food Apple Pie Brandy Snaps	6th	Paint a Truck
Maggie	Blackcurrant Brandy Snaps	5th	Beach Playset
Rochica	Coffee Brandy Snaps	11th	Gingerbread Pinball Game

Episode 3: Bread[]

The signature challenge tasked the bakers with making a focaccia in 2 hours 45 minutes. The technical challenge, set by Paul, tasked the bakers with making 15 olive and cheese ciabatta breadsticks, served with a tzatziki dip, in two hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were asked to create a 3D themed display using milk bread, in four hours and 30 minutes.

Baker	Signature (Focaccia)	Technical (15 Cheese and Onion Ciabatta Breadsticks)	Showstopper (Themed Milk Bread Display)
Amanda	'Chasing Grainbows' Focaccia	3rd	'I Just FISH We Had More'
Chigs	Spanish Cheesy Meaty Focaccia	6th	Honey Milk Bread Picnic Basket
Crystelle	Feta & Grape Focaccia with Fennel & Walnut	9th	'Bready' for Sunday Roast
Freya	Mexican Fajita Focaccia	4th	'Under the Sea' Milk Bread Display
George	Greek Inspired Focaccia	7th	'The Very Hungry Koala'
Giuseppe	'Breakfast in Gaeta' Focaccia	1st	'Your Five-a-Day'
Jürgen	'Kipper-caccia' Focaccia	5th	’The Baby'
Lizzie	'Final Furlong' Focaccia	2nd	Pig Banquet
Maggie	Classic Focaccia	8th	’Things You'd Find in a Rock Pool'
Rochica	Roast Garlic Focaccia with Tomato, Feta & Pesto	10th	Birdcage

Episode 4: Desserts[]

The signature challenge tasked the bakers with making a beautifully decorated Pavlova, in two hours 45 minutes. For the technical challenge, set by Prue, asked the bakers to make 4 individual sticky toffee puddings, served with sticky toffee sauce, two Tuile triangles, and a creme anglaise. The bakers had 90 minutes. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were given the enormous task of making a celebratory joconde imprime dessert, composed of a highly decorated joconde sponge wrapped around at least two elements, in four hours and 30 minutes.

Baker	Signature (Pavlova)	Technical (4 Sticky Toffee Pudding)	Showstopper (Joconde Imprime Dessert)
Amanda	'Chocolate Pav-Love'	8th	'Adam's Temptation' Imprime Dessert
Chigs	Tropical Pavlova	3rd	Black Forest Imprime Dessert
Crystelle	'Kiwi Lime Pie' Pam-lova	5th	'Una Piña Colada, Por Favor'
Freya	Peach Melba Vegan Pavlova	6th	Chocolate & Orange Imprime Dessert
George	Lemon Curd & Biscuit Cream Pavlova	7th	Peanut Butter & Chocolate Imprime Dessert
Giuseppe	'Every Day at the Beach' Pavlova	4th	Red Fruit & Pistachio Imprime Dessert
Jürgen	'Passover Pavlova'	1st	'Passtyme with Good Companye'
Lizzie	Easter Pavlova	2nd	Liverpool Skyline Imprime Dessert
Maggie	Traditional Pavlova	9th	Strawberry Imprime Dessert

Episode 5: German[]

The signature challenge tasked the bakers with making two types of 12 German biscuits, which needed to be dipped, coated, or decorated, in two hours 15 minutes. For the technical challenge, Prue asked the bakers to make a Prinzregententorte, consisting of 8 thin layers of genoises sponge sandwiched with chocolate cream, coated with a shiny chocolate ganache, decorated with rosettes and tempered chocolate crowns, in two hours 45 minutes. The showstopper gave the bakers four and a half hours to produce a yeast-leavened cake. The cakes must be at least two-tiered and inspired by the yeasted cakes popular in Germany.

Baker	Signature (24 German Biscuits)	Technical (Prinzregententorte)	Showstopper (Yeast Leavened Cake)
Amanda	Spritzgebäck & Glühweinplätzchen	8th	Rum. Plum & Raisin Cake
Chigs	Marzipan Hausefreunde & Almond Mandelhörnchen	2nd	Lemon & Mixed Peel Cake
Crystelle	Chocolate Engelsaugen & Pistachio Heidesanda	7th	Bavarian Brioche
Freya	Lebkuchen & Zimtsterne	5th	Upside-Down Cake
George	Cherry Marzipan Biscuits & Aniseed Spingerle	6th	Chocolate & Tahini Anniversary Cake
Giuseppe	Bethmännchen and Italian Linzer Augen	1st	Amarena Cherry Cake
Jürgen	Tee-Sterne & Milchkaffee-Gipfele	4th	Beer Soaked Cake
Lizzie	Mandelhörnchen & Cheeky Boys	3rd	Bavarian Fairy Tale

Episode 6: Pastry[]

For the signature, the bakers were tasked with making two batches of glazed or iced Chouxnuts: 6 filled, 6 not filled. For the technical challenge, Paul required the bakers to make a large baklava. They were asked to layer Filo pastry with a pistachio and walnut filling, cut into a star design, in two hours and 45 minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers were given the intricate task of making a Terrine pie, in four and a half hours. The pies needed to have an ornated pastry decoration on the outside and a neat pattern or design when cut open.

Baker	Signature (Chouxnuts)	Technical (Large Baklava)	Showstopper (Terrine pie)
Amanda	Sweet & Savoury Chouxnuts	5th	'Fancy Terrine Pie'
Chigs	'Oo La La Chouxnuts'	3rd	'Leicester Pork Pie'
Crystelle	Mango Maracujá & Miso Caramel Chouxnuts	2nd	'Lily Nana's Pickle Cottage'
George	Classic Chouxnuts	6th	'Christmas Dinner'
Giuseppe	Bellissima Chouxnuts	4th	'Laura's Terrine Pie'
Jürgen	'Exotic Flavour & 70's Colour'	1st	'Lunch in Freiburg'
Lizzie	Caramel & Floral Chouxnuts	7th	'Neptune Pie'

Episode 7: Caramel[]

For the first signature challenge, the bakers were required to produce a sharing-sized decorative in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The technical challenge was set by Paul where the bakers were tasked to make 10 Caramel Biscuit bars in 1 hour and 30 minutes. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a caramel-flavored dessert with a sugar-work dome or sphere in 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Baker	Signature (Caramel Tart)	Technical (10 Caramel Biscuit Bars)	Showstopper (Domed or Sphered Caramel Dessert)
Chigs	Chocolate, Coconut & Ginger Caramel Tart	3rd	'Caramel Mistake'
Crystelle	Apple, Pecan & Miso Caramel Tart	4th	'Grandad Greg's Cactus Garden'
George	Caramel Custard & Banana Tart	6th	Salted Caramel Almond & Hazelnut Dacquoise
Giuseppe	Apricot & Hazelnut Caramel Tart	1st	Salted Caramel & Praline Dessert
Jürgen	Triple Nut Caramel Delight	2nd	'Caramel Contrasts'
Lizzie	'My Tart Will Go On'	5th	'Roses Really Smell Like Caramel'

Episode 8: Free-from[]

For the signature bake, the bakers were given the challenge of baking 8 dairy-free ice cream sandwiches. They were given 3 hours for the bake. For the technical challenge was to make eight identical vegan sausage rolls accompanied by a sticky red onion chutney, in two hours. In the showstopper, the bakers needed to make a Gluten-free Celebration Cake with at least two tiers. They were given four and a half hours for the bake.

Baker	Signature (8 Dairy-free Iced Cream Sandwiches)	Technical (8 Vegan Sausage Rolls)	Showstopper (Gluten-free Celebration Cake)
Chigs	Mum's Tropical Delight	1st	Gluten-free Red Velvet Cake
Crystelle	Tahini & Miso Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches	5th	'My Nana's Cascading Dress' Gluten-free Cake
Giuseppe	Ginger & Orange Ice Cream Sandwich	2nd	Gluten-free Black Forest Cake
Jürgen	'Meet My Favourites'	4th	Ultimate Gluten-free Birthday Cake
Lizzie	Best Thing About Walks	3rd	Gluten-free ‘Extraordinary' Cake

Episode 9: Pâtisserie (Semi-final)[]

Baker	Signature (8 Pâtisserie-Style Layered Slices)	Technical (Sablé Breton Tart)	Showstopper (Themed Banquet Display)
Chigs	Raspberry & Chocolate Slices	4th	'The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree'
Crystelle	Yuzu, Coconut & Black Sesame Slices	3rd	'Tropical Wedding' Entremets
Giuseppe	Tiramisu Slices	2nd	'Leaning Tower of Pisa'
Jürgen	Murder at the Opera	1st	'Torii Gate in the Sea'

Episode 10: Final[]

Baker	Signature (Carrot Cake)	Technical (12 Belgian Buns)	Showstopper (Mad Hatter Tea Party Display)
Chigs	'Take Two'	2nd	Party Treats
Crystelle	Pistachio, Cardamom & Orange Carrot Cake	1st	Crazy Tea Party
Giuseppe	'Torta Camilla'	3rd	'What Is the Hatter with Me'

Ratings[]

Bake Off launched with 5.7 million viewers and a 30.8% share – its lowest overnight rating since its move to Channel 4 in 2017 – down 1.3 million on 2020.^[20] However, it was the show's biggest ever launch episode on Channel 4 in terms of younger viewers, securing 61.9% of all young viewers watching TV at the time of broadcast.^[21] At 9.73 million, the Series 12 final was the show's least watched since the Series 4 final which drew 9.45 million. Despite this, the series averaged 9.56 million viewers per episode - down 1.5 million on Series 11 - but on par with every other series since the show's move to Channel 4.

Episode no.	Airdate	7-day viewers (millions)	28-day viewers (millions)	Channel 4 weekly ranking	Weekly ranking all channels[22]
1	21 September 2021 (2021-09-21)	9.57	10.18	1	3
2	28 September 2021 (2021-09-28)	8.98	9.64	1	2
3	5 October 2021 (2021-10-05)	8.69	9.39	1	2
4	12 October 2021 (2021-10-12)	8.75	9.13	1	2
5	19 October 2021 (2021-10-19)	8.71	9.27	1	3
6	26 October 2021 (2021-10-26)	9.15	9.57	1	2
7	2 November 2021 (2021-11-02)	9.05	9.50	1	2
8	9 November 2021 (2021-11-09)	9.05	9.49	1	3
9	16 November 2021 (2021-11-16)	9.39	9.61	1	3
10	23 November 2021 (2021-11-23)	9.61	9.73	1	3

References[]