PBS Stirs Up a Fourth Season of Merriment in the Kitchen With Return of THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW #PBSBakingShow
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, the food show phenomenon in the U.S. and abroad, returns for a fourth season on PBS. Known as much for its perfect “scrummy” patisseries as for its “soggy bottom” failures, THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW follows amateur bakers from diverse backgrounds who tackle culinary trials that increase in difficulty as the competition unfolds.
In each episode, challenges come in three categories:
- A Signature Bake, to test the contestants’ creative flair and baking ability
- A Technical Bake, in which challengers receive basic recipes with ingredient lists and minimal instruction
- The Showstopper Bake, designed to display depth of skill and talent
S4: Season 4 Preview
A new crop of amateur bakers invade the tent in pursuit of being named Star Baker. Your favorite baking competition returns to PBS on June 16. Check local listings.
As in past seasons, contestants will be judged by Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, two icons of British baking:
- With nearly 60 years of cooking experience, Berry established herself as a leading food writer and broadcaster. Over her career, she has published 70 cookbooks that have sold millions of copies around the world. She was also appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) during the Queen’s 2012 Birthday Honors.
- The son of a baker, Paul Hollywood is one of the U.K.’s leading artisan bread makers. Though trained as a sculptor, he was persuaded by his father to join the family business and to combine both his artistic and culinary talents. Hollywood has worked in some of the world’s most exclusive hotels, including London’s Dorchester. He published the best-selling "100 Great Breads," which to date has been translated into seven languages.
Comedy duo Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc are the series hosts who keep the contestants and judges grounded, providing the right balance of humor, support and naughtiness.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: "Cake" airs Sunday, June 18 at 6 p.m. - Meet the 12 bakers as they tackle a back-to-basics British classic, a popular cake with a fatless sponge and tricky chocolate work. The showstopper is sophisticated and high-end. With this cake, there's nowhere to hide.
Episode 2: "Biscuits" airs Sunday, June 18 at 7 p.m. - Follow the 11 remaining bakers tasked with making 24 elaborately decorated biscuits; a biscuit that requires perfect piping; and a biscuit structure that demands precision baking — and reveals a little more about each of the contenders.
Episode 3: "Bread" airs Sunday, June 25 at 6 p.m. - See how the bakers tackle three of Paul’s toughest challenges ever: preparing a sweet dough with a twist; avoiding a burnt bottom and a soggy top; and using three different flours to create a huge showstopper centrepiece.
Episode 4: "Batter" airs Sunday, July 2 at 6 p.m. - Join nine bakers for the first-ever batter week. They prepare a British favorite that demands a uniform bake across the batch; a technical challenge that requires a perfect pastry, sweet filling and delicate icing; and a showstopping Spanish classic.
Episode 5: "Pastry" airs Sunday, July 9 at 6 p.m. - See how eight bakers handle three types of pastry. For the signature, it’s breakfast time, Danish style. Then, the technical is a classic British tart. The bite-size showstopper is a pastry notoriously difficult to make and even trickier to bake.
Episode 6: "Botanical" airs Sunday, July 16 at 6 p.m. - Monitor the remaining seven as they strive to give their bakes maximum botanical taste. The signature demands sharp citrus flavors; the technical, a leafy challenge; and the final, three tiers of flavored sponges and stunning floral designs.
Episode 7: "Desserts" airs Sunday, July 23 at 6 p.m. - Learn why sweet challenges mean a bitter end for one baker as the six battle for a spot in the quarter final. The signature has them rolling out their skills; the technical is a tricky French dessert; the showstopper is a bit of a mousse marathon.
Episode 8: "Tudor Week" airs Sunday, July 30 at 6 p.m. - Follow the five remaining bakers as they attempt to re-create dishes fit for the Tudors. The signature is a savory stuffed pie; the technical is an unusual Tudor biscuit that has the bakers tied up in knots; the showstopper is a marzipan spectacle.
Episode 9: "Patissserie" airs Sunday, Aug. 6 at 6 p.m. - Join the four remaining bakers in the semi-final as they bash and fold pastry to achieve perfect lamination; make yeast cake with a fruity top and delicate chocolate work; and prepare a multiple mini-cake bake. Which three will make it to the final?
Episode 10: "The Final" airs Sunday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. - Find out who will be crowned the winner after they wrestle with meringues, undertake a British classic with only one recipe instruction and no measurements, and tackle one of the most complex challenges ever seen on the series.
WATCH ON YOUR SCHEDULE:
Season 4 will be available to stream the morning after broadcast for a limited time.
All 10 episodes of Season 4 will be available to binge watch on demand with KPBS Passport starting on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 6 p.m. (9 p.m. ET). KPBS Passport is video streaming for members ($60 yearly) using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.
Did you miss Seasons 1-3? All past episodes are available to view on demand with KPBS Passport!
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
PBS Food is on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and you can follow @PBSFood on Twitter. #PBSBakingShow
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF is on Facebook and Instagram.
CREDITS:
Known as THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF in the U.K., the show is produced by the award-winning Love Productions and was created by Anna Beattie and Richard McKerrow. Executive producers for Season 4 are Sarah Thomson-Woolley and Richard McKerrow, the series director is Andy Devonshire and the series producer is Eve Winstanley.
