The best Great British Baking Show seasons you can watch right now

The Great British Bake Off (known as The Great British Baking Show within the U.S. and Canada) hardly wants an introduction. The baking competitors is an absolute deal with; every season places a handful of beginner bakers by a sequence of themed baking challenges to find out the winner. The sequence received over the hearts of its viewers by specializing in bakers’ private tales and expertise, reasonably than sowing aggressive chaos.

Though any of the seasons present the last word consolation watch, a few of them rise above the remaining — very like the layers of bake. We’ve collected our favorites, together with two holidays seasons, that we predict are a must-watch. It’s price noting the U.Okay. season 4 is the U.S. season 1. We’ll be going by the previous. And if you’d prefer to stream them, Roku has U.Okay. seasons 1-7, whereas Netflix has U.Okay. seasons 8-13 (however calls them collections 5-10).

Season 4

Image: PBS

Why we predict it’s nice: Series 4 was the second season that aired within the U.S., and it was the primary that made me fall for the present. This was again within the halcyon days of Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins internet hosting the present, with Mary Berry as Paul Hollywood’s higher half on the judging facet of issues (serving to rein in a few of his extra harsh criticisms or outrageous takes). I miss how Bake Off used to take the house to provide some baking historical past classes, or some context in regards to the geography of the place the bake is from. These periods have been truly informative and added to the expertise of studying about baking as a science and an artwork type, reasonably than simply admiring good bakes. In addition to the academic segments, Mary and Paul did “Masterclasses” the place they took on the challenges that they gave the bakers, which gave nice extra context to what we noticed.

Favorite second: I’d be remiss to not point out Ruby Tandoh. An adolescent on the time of filming, Tandoh has gone on to publish nice books and be a normal presence of excellent in what can be a poisonous business. That’s much less “one moment” than it’s a “series of moments that have happened since the show aired,” however I’m glad about it anyway. —Pete Volk

Season 5

Image: Roku

Why we predict it’s nice: This is the candy spot for GBBO: The bakes aren’t fussy or overly gimmicky. Mary Berry is right here. Mel and Sue are at their silliest and filthiest. Paul has but to change into unbearable together with his fixed self-aggrandizing handshakes. The roster of bakers can also be glorious, because of the late, nice Luis; unassuming builder and tiny-pencil aficionado Richard; the charming, ingenious Chetna; baking prodigy Martha, who’s unimaginable to not root for; and ol’ Norman, who actually tried! But it’s the dependable baking of Nancy Birtwhistle, who nailed flavors and execution — and who made chocolate-frosted donuts with faces on them throughout superior dough week — and received by expertise and perfectionism.

Favorite second: Like Marie Kondo, I really like mess and this season is messy. Season 5 is notorious for Iain dumping his botched baked Alaska within the trash, a really memorable meltdown second (that sadly resulted in fellow contestant Diana being focused by on-line trolls) that clinched his departure. The present is equally satisfying to watch figuring out that Jordan, my arch-nemesis who’s unaware of my existence, will get kicked off the present. I don’t care if this makes me sound imply! — Michael McWhertor

Season 6

Image: Roku

Why we predict it’s nice: As one of many many self-taught bakers who propelled to culinary stardom through the sequence, few Bake Off contestants have ever been as heat and charismatic as Nadiya Hussain. Since showing on the present, she has gone on to host a documentary, a number of cooking reveals, and has usually change into an entrenched presence within the British Baking Universe — and we’re all higher for it. Other gifted contestants like Tamal Ray and Ian Cumming have been additionally charming, however let’s be actual: This was the season of Nadiya. Bonus factors for nonetheless being within the Mel and Sue and Mary period, Masterclasses and all.

Favorite second: Alternative elements week. My family has dietary restrictions, and it was enjoyable to see the bakers take care of the challenges we’ve got to frequently. —Pete Volk

Season 9

Image: Netflix

Why we predict it’s nice: Bake Off seasons can run collectively. There’s solely so many instances you can be launched to the shy, insecure contestant with flabbergastingly unimaginable expertise earlier than they mix collectively. But season 9, during which so many Star Baker titles went to the scene-stealing expertise Rahul Mandal, is the standout of that specific style of contestant.

Favorite second: I don’t normally get emotionally invested within the final result of the competition — could the best baker win! But in one in all season 9’s cutaway scenes, it’s revealed that Rahul has no household who can journey to the occasion, and so the particular friends of this younger, first-generation immigrant are merely the older couple that lives subsequent door. In that second I knew that I’d merely die if he didn’t make the finale. —Susana Polo

Season 12

Image: Netflix

Why we predict it’s nice: This season is a standout for its glorious contestants, all of whom I loved watching make scrumptious bakes. I really feel like GBBO took a minute to hit its stride once more with the introduction of latest host Matt Lucas (who has since departed). But I feel we can all agree that the showdown between Italian engineer Giuseppe Dell’Anno and German physicist Jürgen Krauss was the season’s excessive level. Both of them have been extremely form and understated, and in the end extremely enjoyable to watch.

Favorite second: I lived for each time the digicam panned to Giuseppe and Jürgen every utilizing protractors and rulers for his or her bakes. Jürgen additionally performs the trombone and although this isn’t within the season, I really like that Japanese Breakfast invited him to carry out along with her in London. —Nicole Clark

Season 13

Image: Netflix

Why we predict it’s nice: This was one other season of big personalities, from Janusz’s witticisms to Carole’s optimism regardless of the frazzle. Though the season had its low factors — let’s all neglect Mexican Week occurred — it was additionally a pleasure to see a season the place the semifinal contestants have been all individuals of colour. All three have been extremely gifted, by Syabira Yusoff constantly blew everybody out of the water within the season’s second half along with her modern concepts and scrumptious flavors. I simply want the judges stopped calling her palette “so unusual.”

Favorite second: It’s a tie between Syabira being flabbergasted each time she received a Star Baker, and anytime Janusz was funnier than the present’s personal hosts. (He’s on TikTok, by the best way.) —Nicole Clark

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 3, “The Great Festive Baking Show”

Image: Netflix

Why we predict it’s nice: This episode stars the solid of the best TV comedy (don’t battle me), Derry Girls. It’s hysterical as a result of the solid is totally great; it’s exhausting to find out whether or not they’re all in character or whether or not the present characters are simply them, however that’s a part of what makes it so humorous. Shocking nobody, Nicola Coughlan (who performs Clare Devlin) appears to have her wits about her essentially the most, so far as baking goes.

Favorite second: Can I say all of it? Bake Off contestants are normally extraordinarily achieved house bakers who give extremely detailed explanations of their course of and inspirations. When the digicam pans to Siobhán McSweeney (who performs Sister George Michael), she says, “I have put my sponge into the oven, that is on. And I’m putting it in till it’s baked.” Detailed! We prefer it. If I really needed to choose one second, although, it’s most likely McSweeney reaching out to Paul Hollywood for a handshake solely to have him glare and stroll away. —Nicole Clark

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 5, “The Great Festive Baking Show”

Image: Netflix

Why we predict it’s nice: The Great British Bake Off’s vacation episodes are completely underrated. I like them as a result of they’re a really candy check-in with among the present’s best and most charming contestants. The Great New Year’s Bake Off 2022 episode, known as “The Great Festive Baking Show” underneath the The Great British Baking Show: Holidays record on Netflix, is my favourite of the lot as a result of it’s obtained two of my all-time favourite contestants, Hermine from season 11 and Kim-Joy from season 9.

Favorite second: When Hermine will get a Paul Hollywood handshake for her apricot custard crumble breakfast buns — she was robbed in her common season, and whereas this doesn’t make it right, it’s satisfying to see. Throughout, too, Kim-Joy has made exceptionally cute desserts, however her showstopper is a marvel: It’s made out of cookies and stars polar bear Paul and penguin Prue, right down to the decide’s signature pink glasses. A Kim-Joy traditional, there’s additionally a panda within the scene, too. —Nicole Carpenter