The Great British Bake Off series 12

The twelfth series of The Great British Bake Off began airing on 21 September 2021.^[1] It is presented by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, and judged by returning judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The bakers were announced on 14 September 2021.^[2]

The Great British Bake Off
Series 12
One of British digital releases
Starring	Noel Fielding Matt Lucas Paul Hollywood Prue Leith
No. of episodes	10
Release
Original network	Channel 4
Original release	21 September (2021-09-21) – 23 November 2021 (2021-11-23)
Series chronology

The series was won by Giuseppe Dell'Anno, with Chigs Parmar and Crystelle Pereira finishing as the runners-up. Dell'Anno is the first Italian winner of the programme.^[3][4][5]

Bakers

Baker[2]	Age	Occupation	Hometown	Links
Amanda Georgiou	56	Metropolitan Police detective	London	[6]
Chigs Parmar	40	Sales manager	Leicester	[7]
Crystelle Pereira	26	Client relationship manager	London	[8]
Freya Cox	19	Student	Scarborough, North Yorkshire	[9]
George Aristidou	34	Shared lives coordinator	London	[10]
Giuseppe Dell'Anno	45	Chief engineer	Bristol	[11]
Jairzinho Parris	51	Head of Finance	London	[12][13]
Jürgen Krauss	56	Physicist	Brighton, East Sussex	[14]
Lizzie Acker	28	Car production operative	Liverpool	[15][16]
Maggie Richardson	70	Retired nurse and midwife	Poole, Dorset	[17][18]
Rochica Copeland	27	Junior HR business partner	Birmingham	[19]
Tom Fletcher	28	Software developer	Maidstone, Kent	[20]

Results summary

Elimination chart

Baker	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Giuseppe	HIGH	HIGH	SB	HIGH	SB	HIGH	HIGH	SAFE	LOW	WINNER
Chigs	SAFE	HIGH	SAFE	SB	SAFE	SAFE	HIGH	SB	HIGH	Runner-up
Crystelle	HIGH	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	HIGH	SB	HIGH	LOW	SB	Runner-up
Jürgen	SB	SB	SAFE	HIGH	HIGH	SAFE	SB	HIGH	OUT
Lizzie	SAFE	SAFE	HIGH	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	LOW	OUT
George	LOW	HIGH	SAFE	SAFE	LOW	LOW	OUT
Amanda	LOW	LOW	SAFE	LOW	SAFE	OUT
Freya	SAFE	SAFE	HIGH	LOW	OUT
Maggie	SAFE	LOW	LOW	OUT
Rochica	SAFE	SAFE	OUT
Jairzeno	LOW	OUT
Tom	OUT

Colour key:

  Baker was one of the judges' least favourite bakers that week, but was not eliminated.

  Baker was one of the judges' favourite bakers that week, but was not the Star Baker.

  Baker got through to the next round.

  Baker was eliminated.

  Baker was the Star Baker.

  Baker was a series runner-up.

  Baker was the series winner.

Episodes

Colour key:

  Baker was eliminated at conclusion of episode

  Baker received a "Hollywood handshake" for respective bake

  Baker was named "Star Baker" at conclusion of episode

  Baker was named runner-up for the series

  Baker won series

Episode 1: Cake

For the signature challenge, the bakers were tasked with making twelve decorative mini rolls, in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Prue, required the bakers to make a malt loaf served with homemade butter, in two hours. In the showstopper challenge, the bakers were given four hours to create an anti-gravity illusion cake, representing a precious memory.

Baker	Signature (12 Mini Decorative Rolls)	Technical (Malt Loaf)	Showstopper (Anti-Gravity Illusion Cake)	Result
Amanda	'Cherry Soldier' Mini Rolls	12th	Elderflower & Lemon Surf Explosion	Safe
Chigs	Strawberries & Cream Mini Rolls	11th	'Where it all Began'	Safe
Crystelle	'Chai and Chai Again' Mini Rolls	8th	'Bouq-cake' of Flowers	Safe
Freya	Vegan Lemon & Raspberry Mini Rolls	2nd	'Flower Potty'	Safe
George	Chocolate & Hazelnut Mini Rolls	3rd	Greek Table	Safe
Giuseppe	Easter Mini Rolls	10th	'Jack and The Beanstalk'	Safe
Jairzeno	Lime & Passion Fruit Mini Rolls	9th	'Kick the Can' Cake	Safe
Jürgen	Schwarzwald Mini Rolls	6th	'Night Time Reading'	Star Baker
Lizzie	Zoo Mini Rolls	4th	Nana's Peaches & Cream	Safe
Maggie	'Knit & Natter' Mini Rolls	1st	Ice-cream Cornet	Safe
Rochica	Colin Rolls	7th	Apple Cake	Safe
Tom	Black Forest Mini Rolls	5th	Classically Spectacular Showstopper	Eliminated

Episode 2: Biscuits

For the signature challenge, the bakers were tasked with making twenty-four identical Brandy snaps in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, required the bakers to make twelve sandwiched jammy biscuits, consisting of two baked biscuits, jam, and buttercream, in one hour and forty-five minutes. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers needed to create a three-dimensional biscuit replica of a favorite childhood toy in four hours. The replica needed to have an interactive element.

Baker	Signature (24 Brandy Snaps)	Technical (Sandwiched Jammy Biscuit)	Showstopper (3-D Childhood Toy)	Result
Amanda	'Open Sesame' Brandy Snaps	4th	Carousel Rocking Horse	Safe
Chigs	'Espresso Martini' Brandy Snaps	7th	Snooker Table	Safe
Crystelle	'Apple of My P-eye' Brandy Snaps	10th	Vanity Playset	Safe
Freya	'Brandy Snapuccinos'	3rd	'Winnie'	Safe
George	Cypriot Brandy Snaps	8th	'Paul & Prue Airlines'	Safe
Giuseppe	Gianduja Snaps	2nd	Reversi Board Game	Safe
Jairzeno	Chocolate, Passion Fruit & Pineapple Brandy Snaps	9th	Tall Ship	Eliminated
Jürgen	'A Cup of Chai' Brandy Snaps	1st	'Grandpa's Windmill'	Star Baker
Lizzie	Fast-Food Apple Pie Brandy Snaps	6th	'Paint a Truck'	Safe
Maggie	Blackcurrant Brandy Snaps	5th	Beach Playset	Safe
Rochica	Coffee Brandy Snaps	11th	Gingerbread Pinball Game	Safe

Episode 3: Bread

The signature challenge tasked the bakers with making a focaccia in two hours, forty-five minutes. The technical challenge, set by Paul, tasked the bakers with making 15 olive and cheese ciabatta breadsticks, served with a tzatziki dip, in two hours. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were asked to create a three-dimensional themed display using milk bread, in 4+1⁄2 hours.

Baker	Signature (Focaccia)	Technical (15 Olive and Cheese Ciabatta Breadsticks)	Showstopper (Themed Milk Bread Display)	Result
Amanda	'Chasing Grainbows' Focaccia	3rd	'I Just FISH We Had More Time'	Safe
Chigs	Spanish Cheesy Meaty Focaccia	6th	Honey Milk Bread Picnic Basket	Safe
Crystelle	Feta & Grape Focaccia with Fennel & Walnut	9th	'Bready' for Sunday Roast	Safe
Freya	Mexican Fajita Focaccia	4th	'Under the Sea' Milk Bread Display	Safe
George	Greek Inspired Focaccia	7th	'The Very Hungry Koala'	Safe
Giuseppe	'Breakfast in Gaeta' Focaccia	1st	'Your Five-a-Day'	Star Baker
Jürgen	'Kipper-caccia' Focaccia	5th	'The Baby'	Safe
Lizzie	'Final Furlong' Focaccia	2nd	Pig Banquet	Safe
Maggie	Classic Focaccia	8th	'Things You'd Find in a Rock Pool'	Safe
Rochica	Roast Garlic Focaccia with Tomato, Feta & Pesto	10th	Birdcage	Eliminated

Episode 4: Desserts

The signature challenge tasked the bakers with making a beautifully decorated Pavlova, in two hours, forty-five minutes. For the technical challenge, set by Prue, asked the bakers to make four individual sticky toffee puddings, served with sticky toffee sauce, two Tuile triangles, and a creme anglaise. The bakers had ninety minutes. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were given the enormous task of making a celebratory joconde imprimé dessert, composed of a highly decorated joconde sponge wrapped around at least two elements, in 4+1⁄2 hours.

Baker	Signature (Pavlova)	Technical (4 Sticky Toffee Pudding)	Showstopper (Joconde Imprimé Dessert)	Result
Amanda	'Chocolate Pav-Love'	8th	'Adam's Temptation' Imprimé Dessert	Safe
Chigs	Tropical Pavlova	3rd	Black Forest Imprimé Dessert	Star Baker
Crystelle	'Kiwi Lime Pie' Pam-lova	5th	'Una Piña Colada, Por Favor'	Safe
Freya	Peach Melba Vegan Pavlova	6th	Chocolate & Orange Imprimé Dessert	Safe
George	Lemon Curd & Biscuit Cream Pavlova	7th	Peanut Butter & Chocolate Imprimé Dessert	Safe
Giuseppe	'Every Day at the Beach' Pavlova	4th	Red Fruit & Pistachio Imprimé Dessert	Safe
Jürgen	'Passover Pavlova'	1st	'Passtyme with Good Companye'	Safe
Lizzie	Easter Pavlova	2nd	Liverpool Skyline Imprimé Dessert	Safe
Maggie	Traditional Pavlova	9th	Paris Skyline Imprimé Dessert	Eliminated

Episode 5: German

The signature challenge tasked the bakers with making two types of twelve German biscuits, which needed to be dipped, coated, or decorated, in two hours, fifteen minutes. For the technical challenge, Prue asked the bakers to make a Prinzregententorte, consisting of eight thin layers of genoises sponge sandwiched with chocolate cream, coated with a shiny chocolate ganache, decorated with rosettes and tempered chocolate crowns, in two hours, forty-five minutes. The showstopper gave the bakers 4+1⁄2 hours to produce a yeast-leavened cake. The cakes must be at least two-tiered and inspired by the yeasted cakes popular in Germany.

Baker	Signature (24 German Biscuits)	Technical (Prinzregententorte)	Showstopper (Yeast Leavened Cake)	Result
Amanda	Spritzgebäck & Glühweinplätzchen	8th	Rum. Plum & Raisin Cake	Safe
Chigs	Marzipan Hausfreunde & Almond Mandelhörnchen	2nd	Lemon & Mixed Peel Cake	Safe
Crystelle	Chocolate Engelsaugen & Pistachio Heidesand	7th	Bavarian Brioche	Safe
Freya	Lebkuchen & Zimtsterne	5th	Upside-down Cake	Eliminated
George	Cherry Marzipan Biscuits & Anisseed Spingerle	6th	Chocolate & Tahini Anniversary Cake	Safe
Giuseppe	Bethmännchen & Italian Linzer Augen	1st	Amarena Cherry Cake	Star Baker
Jürgen	Tee-Sterne & Milchkaffee-Gipfele	4th	Beer Soaked Cake	Safe
Lizzie	Mandelhörnchen & Cheeky Boys	3rd	Bavarian Fairy Tale	Safe

Episode 6: Pastry

For the signature, the bakers were tasked with making two batches of glazed or iced chouxnuts: six filled, six not filled, to be done in two hours. For the technical challenge, Paul required the bakers to make a large baklava. They were asked to layer Filo pastry with a pistachio and walnut filling, cut into a star design, in two hours and forty-five minutes. For the showstopper, the bakers were given the intricate task of making a terrine pie, in 4+1⁄2 hours. The pies needed to have an ornated pastry decoration on the outside and a neat pattern or design when cut open.

Baker	Signature (12 Chouxnuts)	Technical (Large Baklava)	Showstopper (Terrine Pie)	Result
Amanda	Sweet & Savoury Chouxnuts	5th	'Fancy Terrine Pie'	Eliminated
Chigs	'Oo La La Chouxnuts'	3rd	'Leicester Pork Pie'	Safe
Crystelle	Mango Maracujá & Miso Caramel Chouxnuts	2nd	'Lily Nana's Pickle Cottage'	Star Baker
George	Classic Chouxnuts	6th	'Christmas Dinner'	Safe
Giuseppe	Bellissima Chouxnuts	4th	'Laura's Terrine Pie'	Safe
Jürgen	'Exotic Flavour & 70's Colour'	1st	'Lunch in Freiburg'	Safe
Lizzie	Caramel & Floral Chouxnuts	7th	'Neptune Pie'	Safe

Episode 7: Caramel

For the first signature challenge, the bakers were required to produce a sharing-sized decorative caramel tart in 2+1⁄2 hours. The technical challenge was set by Paul where the bakers were tasked to make ten caramel biscuit bars in 1+1⁄2 hour. For the showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a caramel-flavored dessert with a sugar-work dome or sphere in 4+1⁄2 hours.

Baker	Signature (Caramel Tart)	Technical (10 Caramel Biscuit Bars)	Showstopper (Domed or Sphered Caramel Dessert)	Result
Chigs	Chocolate, Coconut & Ginger Caramel Tart	3rd	'Caramel Mistake'	Safe
Crystelle	Apple, Pecan & Miso Caramel Tart	4th	'Grandad Greg's Cactus Garden'	Safe
George	Caramel Custard & Banana Tart	6th	Salted Caramel Almond & Hazelnut Dacquoise	Eliminated
Giuseppe	Apricot & Hazelnut Caramel Tart	1st	Salted Caramel & Praline Dessert	Safe
Jürgen	Triple Nut Caramel Delight	2nd	'Caramel Contrasts'	Star Baker
Lizzie	'My Tart Will Go On'	5th	'Roses Really Smell Like Caramel'	Safe

Episode 8: Free-from (Quarterfinals)

For the signature bake, the bakers were given the challenge of baking eight dairy-free ice cream sandwiches in three hours For the technical challenge was to make eight identical vegan sausage rolls accompanied by a sticky red onion chutney, in two hours. In the showstopper, the bakers needed to make a gluten-free celebration cake with at least two tiers. They were given four hours for the bake.

Baker	Signature (8 Dairy-free Iced Cream Sandwiches)	Technical (8 Vegan Sausage Rolls)	Showstopper (Gluten-free Celebration Cake)	Result
Chigs	Mum's Tropical Delight	1st	Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake	Star Baker
Crystelle	Tahini and Miso Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches	5th	'My Nana's Cascading Dress' Gluten-Free Cake	Safe
Giuseppe	Ginger and Orange Ice Cream Sandwich	2nd	Gluten-Free Black Forest Cake	Safe
Jürgen	'Meet My Favourites'	4th	Ultimate Gluten-Free Birthday Cake	Safe
Lizzie	Best Thing About Walks	3rd	Gluten-Free ‘Extraordinary' Cake	Eliminated

Episode 9: Pâtisserie (Semifinals)

In the semifinal signature challenge, the bakers were tasked to make eight pâtisserie-style layered slices in 3 hours. For the technical bake, set by Prue, the bakers are tasked in making a Sablé Breton Tart, consisting of a sablé breton pastry base, topped with raspberry confiture, piped with pistachio crème mousseline, filled with fresh berries and topped with glided meringue kisses and chocolate curls, all in two hours and forty-five minutes. A themed banquet display consisting of a crafted edible centrepiece surrounded by least twelve individual entremets desserts was set as the showstopper. The bakers were given five hours.

Baker	Signature (8 Pâtisserie-style Layered Slices)	Technical (Sablé Breton Tart)	Showstopper (Themed Banquet Display)	Result
Chigs	Raspberry & Chocolate Slices	4th	'The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree'	Safe
Crystelle	Yuzu, Coconut & Black Sesame Slices	3rd	'Tropical Wedding' Entremets	Star Baker
Giuseppe	Tiramisu Slices	2nd	'Leaning Tower of Pisa'	Safe
Jürgen	Murder at the Opera	1st	'Torii Gate in the Sea'	Eliminated[a]

1. Jürgen's elimination received public backlash following the episode's airing with Ofcom receiving 115 complaints.^{[citation needed]}

Episode 10: Final

The finalists were set the task of making a carrot cake in two hours and fifteen minutes for the signature challenge. For the final technical challenge, set by Paul, the bakers were given two hours and thirty minutes to create twelve Belgian buns filled with sultanas and lemon curd, with only two instructions given. For the ultimate showstopper challenge, the bakers were tasked to make a Mad Hatter tea party display with sweet and savory afternoon tea treats, showcasing at least four different baking disciplines in 4+1⁄2 hours. The judges expect to see the madness feel of Alice in Wonderland in the bakes.

Baker	Signature (Carrot Cake)	Technical (12 Belgian Buns)	Showstopper (Mad Hatter Tea Party Display)	Result
Chigs	'Take Two'	2nd	Party Treats	Runner-up
Crystelle	Pistachio, Cardamom & Orange Carrot Cake	1st	Crazy Tea Party	Runner-up
Giuseppe	'Torta Camilla'	3rd	'What Is the Hatter with Me'	Winner[a]

1. Giuseppe was the only finalist to kiss "Mr. Spatula," a prop of Noel Fielding's that can purportedly grant the finalist(s) the winning title if they "just...kiss [Mr. Spatula's] head."^[21]

Specials

Two specials were commissioned for the festive season:

The Great Christmas Bake Off

The Great Christmas Bake Off featured It's a Sin's Olly Alexander, Nathaniel Curtis, Lydia West and Shaun Dooley.

The signature challenge required the bakers to make a Christmas Dinner's leftovers pie, in two hours, it can be made with any type of pastry, but the fillings must be made with leftovers from the baker's favorite Christmas Dinner. Prue's technical challenge tasked the bakers with making a chocolate Yule Log, in one hour and fifteen minutes. The bakers were given 3 hours to make a Christmas Tree out of biscuit or meringue for the showstopper challenge.

Baker	Signature (Christmas Dinner's leftovers pie)	Technical (Chocolate Yule Log)	Showstopper (Biscuit/Meringue Christmas Tree)	Result
Lydia	Tom Yum Turkey Christmas Pie	4th	Lemon Sablé Biscuit Christmas Tree	Runner-up
Nathaniel	Turkey & Pancetta Christmas Leftovers Pie	1st	Orange & Cinnamon Christmas Tree	Winner
Olly	Curried Vegetable Pie	3rd	Meringue Christmas Tree	Runner-up
Shaun	Turkey & Ham Leftover Pie	2nd	Pistachio Meringue Christmas Tree	Runner-up

The Great New Year Bake Off

The Great New Year Bake Off features Jon Jenkins and Kim-Joy Hewlett from Series 9, along with Rowan Williams and Hermine Dossou from Series 11.

For the signature challenge, the bakers were asked to create twelve buns, suitable for a New Year's day Breakfast, the buns can be any flavor or shape, but must be yeasted and feature a topping of the baker's choice, three hours are given. Paul's technical challenge required the bakers to make a New Years Eve cake inspired by the traditional Greek Vasilopita, consisting of a perfectly baked lemon mahleb and mastika sponge and decorated with water icing, lemon curd and crystallized citrus peel in one hour and thirty minutes. A shadow box winter scene with a frame, to all be created with at least three different biscuits in four hours is the showstopper.

Baker	Signature (12 buns for a New Years Breakfast)	Technical (Vasilopita)	Showstopper (Shadow Box Winter Scene)	Result
Hermine	Apricot Custard Crumble Buns	3rd	'Festive Outdoors' Shadow Box	Runner-up
Jon	'Bacon & Eggs' Pecan & Maple Buns	4th	'Our Dream Wedding Scene' Shadow Box	Runner-up
Kim-Joy	Sticky Pecan Breakfast Buns	1st	Cosy Winter Scene Shadow Box	Winner
Rowan	'Fried Egg' Breakfast Buns	2nd	Winter Dream Shadow box	Runner-up

Ratings

Bake Off launched with 5.7 million viewers and a 30.8% share—its lowest overnight rating since its move to Channel 4 in 2017—down 1.3 million in 2020.^[22] However, it was the show's biggest ever launch episode on Channel 4 in terms of younger viewers, securing 61.9% of all young viewers watching TV at the time of broadcast.^{[23][non-primary source needed]}

Episode no.	Airdate	7-day viewers (millions)	28-day viewers (millions)	Channel 4 weekly ranking	Weekly ranking all channels[24]
1	21 September 2021 (2021-09-21)	9.57	10.18	1	3
2	28 September 2021 (2021-09-28)	8.98	9.64		2
3	5 October 2021 (2021-10-05)	8.69	9.39
4	12 October 2021 (2021-10-12)	8.75	9.13
5	19 October 2021 (2021-10-19)	8.71	9.27		3
6	26 October 2021 (2021-10-26)	9.15	9.57		2
7	2 November 2021 (2021-11-02)	9.05	9.50
8	9 November 2021 (2021-11-09)		9.49		3
9	16 November 2021 (2021-11-16)	9.39	9.61
10	23 November 2021 (2021-11-23)	9.61	9.73

References

1. "Great British Baking Show 2021 contestants revealed". BBC. 14 September 2021.
2. "Meet the contestants for the 12th series of The Great British Bake Off". The Independent. 13 September 2021. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
3. "The Great British Bake Off 2021: final – as it happened". Guardian. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
4. "The Great British Bake Off crowns its 2021 winner". BBC. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
5. Bennett, Paige. "First vegan baker on the 'Great British Baking Show' shares what it was really like on the series". Insider. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
6. "Amanda Geo". Instagram.
7. "Chigs Parmar". Instagram.
8. "Crystelle Pereira". Instagram.
9. "Freya Cox". Instagram. 29 November 2021.
10. "George Aristidou". Instagram.
11. Baker, Hannah (20 September 2021). "The Great British Bake Off 2021: National Composite Centre's chief engineer Giuseppe Dell'Anno to compete". Business Live.
12. "baked_by_jairzinho". Instagram.
13. Shufflebotham, Bethan (26 September 2021). "Great British Bake Off: The dog-loving contestants with 'star bakers' back home". Wales Online.
14. "Juergen Thebread". Instagram.
15. "Liverpool Great British Bake-Off contestant Lizzie reveals she was in a panic meeting other bakers". Liverpool Echo. 20 September 2021.
16. "Lizzie Acker". Instagram.
17. Baddeley, Nicole (21 September 2021). "Watch Maggie from Poole on The Great British Bake Off tonight". Daily Echo.
18. "Maggie". Instagram.
19. "Rochica". Instagram.
20. Castle, Liane (23 September 2021). "The Great British Bake Off contestant Tom Fletcher from Maidstone reacts to his time on the Channel 4 show after becoming first to leave". Kent Online.
21. Scinto, Maria (24 November 2021). "Why Great British Bake Off Fans Are Freaking Out Over A Spatula". Mashed. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
22. Warner, Sam (22 September 2021). "Great British Bake Off suffers lowest launch show ratings since Channel 4 move". Digital Spy.
23. "Delicious #GBBO return last night is highest rating @Channel4 commission so far this year". Channel 4 Press. 22 September 2021.
24. "Four-screen dashboard". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 17 September 2019.