Bake Off is back!

By Katelyn Mensah

Published: Monday, 09 October 2023 at 14:15 PM


The Great British Bake Off has well and truly begun, and with a couple of bakers already out of the competition, the stakes are higher than ever – as the contestants try their best to be named Star Baker each week.

The remaining 10 bakers will be judged on their skills by Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, and will be joined by hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding in the tent – and this time it’s Bread Week!

Ahead of season 14’s release, it was announced that Bake Off had scrapped its national-themed weeks following backlash from viewers. In previous years, the show had featured a Japan week, a German week and a Mexican week.

Speaking to The Guardian ahead of The Great British Bake Off‘s return, executive producer Kieran Smith said the 2023 season would be “very traditional”.

“We didn’t want to offend anyone, but the world has changed and the joke fell flat. We’re not doing any national themes this year.”

There have been some new themes added to the competition this time out, including chocolate, botanicals and party bakes. The usual bread, cake and biscuit weeks will all make a return for the 14th season.

So, what’s on the menu tonight? Read on for everything you need to know about this week’s theme on The Great British Bake Off 2023.

What is the Great British Bake Off 2023 theme this week?

Paul and Prue for The Great British Bake Off hugging each other, looking into camera
Paul and Prue for The Great British Bake Off.
Love Productions/Channel 4/Mark Bourdillon

Week 3 – Bread Week

What is week three’s Signature Challenge?  A classic cottage loaf

What is week three’s Technical Challenge? TBC

What is week three’s Showstopper Challenge? A plaited piece that will make Paul proud.

Saku for Great British Bake Off wearing a yellow outfit, smiling
Saku for Great British Bake Off. Love Productions/Channel 4/Mark Bourdillon

Week 2 – Biscuit Week

The second week of Bake Off was Biscuit Week. The bakers had to create some truly delicious biscuits to wow the judges in the hopes of being named Star Baker in Week 2.

What is week two’s Signature Challenge? 12 identical marshmallow biscuits

What is week two’s Technical Challenge? Custard Creams

What is week two’s Showstopper Challenge? Their favourite meal out of biscuits in an illusion-themed Showstopper.

Week 1 – Cake Week

The first week of Bake Off kicked off with Cake Week! The bakers needed to make their best first impression with the judges, and there was no better way to do that than by baking some truly delicious cakes.

What was week one’s Signature Challenge? The perfect vertical layer cake.

What was week one’s Technical Challenge? An iconic chocolate cake.

What was week one’s Showstopper Challenge? A sponge showstopper with a menagerie of animals.