From Bread Week to Batter Week on The Great British Bake Off

Bread Week was the theme of episode three of the seventh series of the hugely popular contest ‘The Great British Bake Off’ which aired on Wednesday (September 7) on BBC1.

The show’s co-judge, master baker Paul Hollywood, put together three challenges. First up was the signature challenge – a sweet dough with a twist. The bakers then faced a steamy technical challenge without an oven, as Paul and co-judge Mary Berry stepped away, leaving the bakers with only a basic set of instructions and ingredients. For the perfect bake they had to avoid a burnt bottom and a soggy top.

The technical challenge required the use of three different flours to create a huge showstopper centrepiece.

In next week’s episode, entitled Batter Week, just nine of the 12 amateur bakers remain. Mary and Paul have set three challenges to test the competitors on some store cupboard classics. To start things off there is a British favourite for the signature challenge, and the judges are looking for perfection – a uniform bake across the batch and a tasty savoury filling.

Meanwhile, the technical challenge ‘requires a steady hand to master its intricacies, and there’s no room for error,’ the BBC said. Finally there is a showstopper where the ovens are off and the fryers are out, as the bakers are challenged to do their own versions of a Spanish classic.

Episode four (of 11) of The Great British Bake Off airs next Wednesday (September 14) at 8pm on BBC1.

L-r: Presenter Sue Perkins, co-judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, presenter Mel Giedroyc