Every season of The Great British Bake Off, ranked

It’s a toss up between this season and season 13 as to the most offensive, and this just pips it with Japanese Week. Criticism of the theme included that it seemed to conflate Asian and Japanese. Prior to this series, Paul Hollywood had filmed a food show in Japan, which didn’t get the nicest reviews. Like nearly everything in 2020, that year’s Bake Off was also affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and aired after months of on-and-off lockdowns, sticking swabs up our noses and generally feeling ill and isolated. The contestants all lived together in a bubble, meaning that the show looked and felt like it normally did. But Bake Off 11 was the first season Matt Lucas co-hosted the show, and his presence never quite gelled with the program’s gentle mood.

Two words: Mexican Week. Another national week shoehorned in simply because Paul Hollywood had filmed a series in that country. And the borderline (if we’re being kind) racism left a bitter taste in the mouth. Not even winner Syabira, whose picture surely appears in the dictionary next to the word delightful, is enough to give this season a higher rank.

In 2017, Bake Off started again. In the U.K. it moved to a new home, from national broadcaster BBC to commercial broadcaster Channel 4. That meant not only the addition of advertising breaks, but also a change in personnel, with only Paul Hollywood choosing to stay on. He was joined by new judge Prue Leith, while Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding took on hosting duties from the much-loved Mel and Sue. While this season of Bake Off gave us lovely Liam, who now co-judges the children’s version of the franchise, it stands out most because of the dissatisfaction nearly every fan had thanks to the changes.

Neither here nor there, season 10 is one of the most unmemorable seasons of Bake Off. And it only technically earns its top 10 spot because other seasons were actively worse. (Still, props to winner David Atherton, who managed to nab that spot even though he didn’t earn Star Baker throughout the batch’s run.)

When Bake Off first began, it was just six measly episodes, and every week it moved to a new filming location. It had an intriguing concept, but its first season was definitely a find-your-feet kind of chapter—a bit like Parks And Rec, but nowhere near as bad. It gave us more than a decade of (mostly) glorious television, and so deserves its spot just inside the top ten.

There is one reason and one reason only that season nine places in the top ten: Rahul. Although he won Star Baker (twice) and got a Hollywood Handshake (and then went on to win), the research scientist was constantly self-deprecating and apologetic; his disbelief in how good he was spoke to a lot of people’s insecurities, and his facial expressions were a sight to behold. All hail Rahul!

Some seasons of Bake Off are so heavily tied to a single moment that it’s difficult to remember sometimes what else went on. Season five is one of those seasons, and lives in memory for #Bingate, in which Diana moved fellow baker Iain’s Baked Alaska from the freezer, and it melted; instead of attempting to salvage it, Iain instead threw a strop and lobbed it in the bin. That incident overshadows what was actually a pretty good round of Bake Off, won by Nancy. Other viewer favorites include Chetna, who was eliminated in the semi-finals but went on to win a Christmas special, and Norman, who will be loved forever for his declaration that to him pesto is exotic.

Bake Off’s 2013 outing could be nicknamed The Case Of The Stolen Custard, as it’s the moment people most remember. Has anyone ever looked more mortified while baking than Deborah did when she realized she’d used Howard’s custard? And yet, despite the fun, the show’s finale turned out to be a bit lackluster, with none of the three bakers (Ruby, Frances, and Kimberley) managing to produce their best bakes. But season four’s middle-of-the-road ranking is mostly down to the treatment of Ruby while the show was airing, which was more than slightly tinged with misogyny from all quarters (including media and viewers); Ruby was just 21 at the time, and although she’s gone on to become a successful food writer and baker, she deserved better when the show aired.

Bake Off very quickly found its groove, and that was perhaps down to two key production decisions that made things smoother behind the scenes for its second outing: The show increased its episode count from six to eight (although it would soon go on to 10 per batch) and decided on a home for the whole season (Valentines Mansion in London), rather than moving the tent to a new place each week. It also had a great mix of contestants, including winner Joanne and the incredibly talented Mary-Anne, whose every bake was the type you just wanted to gobble down.

This season of Bake Off could easily have been a flop, coming as it did after a legendary year. But somehow, the producers put together just the right mix of contestants, and it held its own. Highlights include Benjamina and Selasi’s friendship, and winner Candice’s incredible recreation in biscuit form of the pub she grew up in, complete with sticky carpet. An easy-to-watch season, this one is just a joy from start to finish.

Like during the 2020 season, the contestants of Bake Off 2021 were affected by coronavirus; they all lived together again, which made for excellent television, with cute behind-the-scenes clips shared throughout. The bakers, including viewer faves Jürgen and winner Giuseppe, are so good that this season ranks high despite being hosted by Noel and Matt. The real star though was the lovely Chigs, who only started baking at the start of the 2020 coronavirus lockdown in the U.K. and whose good looks (particularly when he popped his glasses on) and sweetness gave him true baking heartthrob status.

Season three was all about two things: Brendan’s 1970s-inspired bakes, which he stuck to despite Paul’s constant mocking, and James’ collection of cozy-looking knitwear. The core of Bake Off’s success, and why it makes such wonderful television, is in the camaraderie between contestants, and this is the first season in which true friendships seemed to blossom in the tent, including between Sarah-Jane and Cathryn (although that friendship almost ended when the former advised the latter on how to get the best dough; Cathryn subsequently flung it across the room). That warmth thankfully made up for Bake Off’s most gruesome moment, when eventual winner John sliced his finger and bled all over the place.

No season of Bake Off will ever be better than season six. It of course is the season won by Nadiya Hussain, who has since gone on to become a darling of cookery television and recipe books. And her speech upon winning can still bring tears to the eyes. But season six doesn’t just rely on Nadiya for its brilliance, instead giving us contestants, friendships, and moments that all stand out. Season six is the home of the bread lion created by Paul (the contestant, not the judge); much spoken about since, its magnificence has never been recreated. We also had Tamal and Nadiya’s friendship, Mat baking his icing, and a finale so full of love it could rival any feel-good film. Bake Off’s sixth season is truly a masterpiece of competition television.