The Great British Bake Off series 13

The thirteenth series of The Great British Bake Off began on 13 September 2022. It is again presented by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas and judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The bakers competing in the series were announced on 2 September 2022. The series was filmed at Welford Park, an estate near Newbury, Berkshire which was previously used for the programme from 2014 to 2019.
The season was won by Syabira Yusoff, with Abdul Rehman Sharif and Nelsandro "Sandro" Farmhouse finishing as the runners-up. Yusoff is the first female winner since Sophie Faldo from Season 8.
This was the final series presented by Matt Lucas, who announced his departure from the programme on 6 December 2022.

Results summary

Abdul and Rebs were ill and unable to compete in episode 3; at the end of the episode, the judges decided it was unfair to eliminate anyone in their absence.
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Episodes

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Episode 1: Cake

For the first signature challenge, the bakers were required to bake twelve identical mini sandwich cakes in two hours. For the technical challenge, set by Paul, the bakers were tasked with making a six-layered red velvet cake in two hours, each layer sandwiched with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with red crumbs. A 3D cake replica of a home that the bakers once lived in was set as the showstopper; the bakers were given four hours, the judges expecting the bake to be full of detail.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	'Cake-y Cacti'	6th	'Summer In Pakistan'
Carole	'To Bee or not to Bee'	8th	'Little House In The Country'
Dawn	Lime, Coconut & Tamarind Spring Cakes	3rd	'Nan's House'
James	Sticky Toffee Apple Candles	12th	'Last House On The Loch'
Janusz	Pistachio & Cherry Vodka Liquor Wuzetka	7th	'Home Is Where The Flowers Grow'
Kevin	Mini Persian Love Cakes	4th	'Ba-Na-Na That's My Hame'
Maisam	Pistachio Cakes with Raspberry Buttercream	5th	'My Childhood Home'
Maxy	'Mango Magic Mess'	10th	'At My Mama's'
Rebs	Hazelnut Mocha Latte Mini Cakes	11th	'Piña Colada Cottage'
Sandro	'A Bitesize of Love'	2nd	'Best Time Ever' Cake
Syabira	Coconut, Pandan & Caramel Mousse Cake	1st	'Happiest Childhood Memory'
Will	Ginger & Caramel Squares	9th	'First London Family Home'

Episode 2: Biscuits

The signature bake was eighteen Decorative macarons with a twist – they must be made to appear like something else. Two hours was given for the challenge. For the technical challenge, set by Prue, the bakers were given one hour and forty-five minutes to bake twelve Garibaldi biscuits with feathered chocolate on top. A 3D biscuit mask to be completed in 4 hours was the showstopper challenge.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	'Fudgetastic Maca-Cones'	11th	'Parrot-astic' Biscuits
Carole	'Just A Mouthful'	4th	'Macaron Masquerade'
Dawn		9th	'Baroque-Punk' Mask
James	'Raccarons'	2nd	Menacing Mask
Janusz	Miniature Melons	6th	Cubist Mask
Kevin	Mint Choc Trip	8th	Mythical Mask
Maisam	Cute Carrots	7th	Venetian Mask
Maxy		5th	Masquerade
Rebs	'Wee Branstons'	1st	Floral Fascinator
Sandro	'Cheat Day Treat'	3rd	Carnival Costume
Syabira	Satay Macarons	10th	'Two Face, One Soul'

Episode 3: Bread

The bakers were set the task of making two sharing-size pizzas in two hours for the signature challenge. The technical challenge, set by Paul, was the baking of twelve pain aux raisins, to be completed in two hours and forty-five minutes. Finally, for their -hour showstopper, the bakers were asked to create their own interpretation of a Swedish celebration 'cake', the Smörgåstårta, topped with exquisite decorations.
Both Abdul and Rebs did not compete due to falling ill. Consequently, no one was eliminated this week but the following week would be a double elimination.

Episode 4: Mexican

For their signature challenge, the bakers were asked to make twelve individual Pan dulce in hours. Paul's technical challenge required them to make eight Mexican hand-pressed corn tacos and their fillings, in two hours. The showstopper gave them four hours to make their own four-layer version of a Tres Leches Cake.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	Coconut & Raspberry Besos	6th	'Day of the Dead' Tres Leches Cake
Carole	Orange & Anise Seed Pan Dulce	10th	'Pastel de Chocolate Mexicano' Tres Leches Cake
Dawn	'Dark Chocolate & Chilli Kick' Conchas	5th	'Blooming' Tres Leches Cake
James	'Coffee Caramel Oyster' Conchas	8th	Chocolate & Lime 'Many Leches' Cake
Janusz	Cacti Conchas	7th	'Fruity Horchata' Tres Leches Cake
Kevin	'Sweet Breads are Made of These' Borrachitos	4th	'Meci-Cocoa Pyramid' Tres Leches Cake
Maxy	'Bella Naranja' Conchas	1st	'Cocoa Flower Fiesta' Tres Leches Cake
Rebs	Lemon Conchas	9th	'Mexican Tiramisu' Tres Leches Cake
Sandro	Filled Concha Buns	3rd	'It's a Fiesta' Tres Leches Cake
Syabira	Corn on the Cob Conchas	2nd	Sweetcorn & Cinnamon Tres Leches Cake

Episode 5: Desserts

For the signature the bakers had two hours to make eight individual steamed puddings, with an accompaniment of their choice. Prue's technical challenge gave them two hours to bake her favorite classic lemon meringue pie. The showstopper challenge required the bakers to produce a three-element mousse-based dessert with a surprise inside, and including three other dessert elements, in four hours, thirty minutes.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	Fig & Date Puddings	2nd	'A Little Galaxy' Mousse Dessert
Carole	'My Little Beauties'	6th	'Strawberry Fields'
Dawn	'Traditional' Steamed Puddings	7th	'Woodland' Mousse Dessert
Janusz	Piña Colada Puddings	1st	‘Cake Within a Cake Surprise'
Kevin	Clootie Dumplings	5th	'What The Dog Dug'
Maxy	Sticky Toffee Puddings	3rd	'Sunset Surprise'
Sandro	Apple & Cherry Crumble Puddings	4th	'It's a Mousse World'
Syabira	Watermelon Steamed Puddings	8th	'Bee Positive'

Episode 6: Halloween

In the program's first-ever Halloween Week, the signature bake was a decorated Apple Cake, to be produced in two hours. The technical challenge set by Paul gave them two hours to produce eight toasted marshmallow and chocolate campfire snack S'mores. The four-hour showstopper challenge asked them to make a Halloween piñata hanging lantern filled with sweet treats.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	Bonfire Cake	7th	Witches Lantern
Dawn	'Ukrainian Sharlotka'	5th	'A Cat in a Fancy Hat' Lantern
Janusz	'Mum's Apple Cake'	2nd	'Halloween Horror Movie Popcorn' Lantern
Kevin	'Apple Bobbing'	3rd	'Arachna-FOMO' Lantern
Maxy		6th	'Spoooooky' Lantern
Sandro	Creepy Apple Crumble Cake	4th	'Dead Disco Ball' Lantern
Syabira		1st	'Itsy Bitsy Spider' Lantern

Episode 7: Custard

The signature challenge gave the bakers ninety minutes to produce eight Floating Islands. Prue set a technical challenge giving two hours, forty-five minutes to make six cones filled with pistachio and praline ice cream. The time-sensitive nature of the technical challenge required that the bakers' starting times be staggered and the judges taste each ice cream cone right after it was completed by the bakers. The showstopper challenge required them to bake a multi-layered gateau featuring a set custard, in four hours.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	Cherry, Orange & Pistachio Floating Islands	4th	Peach & Raspberry Mille-feuille
Janusz	'Morning Vanilla Latte' Floating Islands	5th	'Neapolitan' Custard Gateau
Kevin	'Everything's Coming Up Roses' Floating Islands	3rd	'My Honey Valentine' Custard Gateau
Maxy	'Blueberry Lagoon' Floating Islands	2nd	'The Promised Land' Custard Gateau
Sandro	Cherry, Almond & Hazelnut Floating Island	1st	'Tribute to a Friend' Custard Gateau
Syabira	Mojito Floating Islands	6th	'Piña Coladas Anyone?' Custard Gateau

Episode 8: Pastry (Quarterfinals)

The bakers produced a dozen vol-au-vents with a sweet filling in the two-hour signature challenge, The technical challenge set by Prue required them to make eight crispy deep-fried spring rolls with a dipping sauce, in one hour, twenty minutes. For the showstopper they were asked to create a spectacular 3D pie scene inspired by favorite childhood story or nursery rhyme, consisteing of at least eight pies, all in four hours.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	Coconut and Berry Vol-au-Vents	3rd	'Adventures of a Pie-rate' Pie Scene
Janusz	'Strawberries & Cream' Vol-au-Vents	2nd	'The Very Hungry Sausage Dog' Pie Scene
Maxy	'Summertime Fine' Vol-au-Vents	5th	'Spicy Twinkling Stars' Pie Scene
Sandro	'Key-Lime' Vol-au-Vents	1st	Caterpillar Pie Scene
Syabira	'Citrus Dreams' Vol-au-Vents	4th	'Jack and the Beanstalk' Pie Scene

Episode 9: Pâtisserie (Semi-final)

In the Patisserie Week signature challenge, the semi-finalist bakers were asked to make six Mini Charlottes in hours. Prue's technical challenge required they bake four precisely assembled shortcrust pastry vertical tarts in two hours. The showstopper challenge was to make their own version of the Swedish Krokan multi-tiered almond biscuit dough creation in four hours.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	'Pistachio Tiramisu' Mini-Charlottes	2nd	'To the Stars!' Krokan
Janusz	'Plums in Chocolate' Mini-Charlottes	3rd	'Brighton Pride' Krokan
Sandro	'Caramel Nutty' Mini-Charlottes	4th	'Where it Started to How it's Going' Krokan
Syabira	'Peanut & Berries' Mini-Charlottes	1st	'The DNA in You' Krokan

Episode 10: Final

The signature challenge asked the finalists to produce a perfect picnic, using seasonal British ingredients to make six mini-cakes, six individual vegetarian pies, and six finger sandwiches, in three hours. Paul set the technical challenge, allowing two hours to make a Summer pudding bombe. For the outer shell of their bombe, the bakers were given the unused white bread loaf they baked from their signature challenge. For the hour showstopper, they needed to make a large edible sculpture on the theme of "Our Beautiful Planet" that consisted of a large cake base and demonstrating three additional baking skills.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Abdul	Summer Picnic	1st	'It's All About The Bees' Edible Sculpture
Sandro	Summer Picnic	3rd	'The World From Different Angles' Edible Sculpture
Syabira	Summer Picnic	2nd	'This is My Home' Edible Sculpture

Specials

Two specials were commissioned for the festive season:

''The Great Christmas Bake Off''

The Great Christmas Bake Off featured five Channel 4 legends in commemoration of the channel's 40th anniversary: Miquita Oliver, Terry Christian, Tony Robinson, Gaby Roslin and Claire Sweeney.
The signature challenge was for the bakers to bake eight individual cakes shaped like baubles, which had to include a filling or an icing, in two hours. The technical challenge, set by Paul, asked the bakers to make a tear and share, with Camembert, in the shape of a Christmas tree, with rough-puff pastry, in one hour and forty-five minutes. The showstopper challenge tasked the bakers to make an edible wreath, made of choux pastry and/or meringue, which had to have a festive filling in three hours.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Claire	Cherry & Amaretto Bauble Cakes	2nd	Christmas Spiced Edible Wreath
Gaby	Gluten-Free 'Fruity' Bauble Cakes	1st	Passion Fruit 'Big Breakfast' Edible Wreath
Miquita	‘Mirabelle’ Bauble Cakes	3rd	'Abundance & Gratitude' Edible Wreath
Terry	Chocolate & Brandy Christmas Bauble Cakes	5th	Festive Edible Wreath
Tony		4th	'Holy Berry Dog' Edible Wreath

''The Great New Year Bake Off''

The Great New Year Bake Off featured Antony Amourdoux and Manon Lagrève, Lottie Bedlow and Chigs Parmar.
The signature challenge tasked the bakers with making a savoury Wellington in two and a half hours. The technical challenge, set by Prue, was a vegan Baked Alaska in two hours and forty-five minutes. The showstopper challenge was for the bakers to make a bûche entremet in four hours.

Baker	Signature	Technical	Showstopper	Result
Antony	'Kerala Coconut Beef Fry' Wellington	4th	'My Chestnuts With Love' Bûche
Chigs	'Festive Jerk Lamb' Wellington	2nd	'Bougie Bûche'
Lottie	'It was the Salmon' Wellington	3rd	'The Original Yule Log'
Manon	Salmon Roulade Wellington	1st	'Triple Chocolate Village' Bûche

Reception

Fans on social media criticised the thirteenth series, including the following aspects of the final week: time limit as too short, tasks as heavily complex within time allowed, bakes as short on quality, and judges' perceived overly negative comments.
Besides what fans noted, Nicola Austin of Digital Spy further criticised the series's Technical challenges as the production's intentions for amateur bakers "to fail", highlight one-step instruction, "Make a lemon meringue pie", for week five's "Lemon Meringue Pie"; and lack of instructions to properly use vegetarian gelatin for the finale's "Summer Pudding Bombe". Austin further stated, "uch of the judges' precise specifications, timings and presentation requirements now lean more towards professional standards," different from what Bake Off initially intended to be. She further criticised the series's "stereotypical presentation of Mexican culture" in episode five and other "faux pas on display", like Halloween-themed bakes in episode six and spring rolls as a Technical challenge.
In response to the fan backlash, especially toward the Mexican Week, the producers' decision not to produce nationality-themed challenges for the following fourteenth series was made although this was met with further backlash from TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson.
Contestant Dawn Hollyoak died on 5 July 2024, aged 61, with Hollywood and Leith leading tributes.

Ratings

Episode no.	Airdate	7-day viewers	Channel 4 weekly ranking	Weekly ranking all channels
1		8.30	1	1
2		7.60	1	5
3		7.35	1	3
4		7.76	1	3
5		8.32	1	2
6		7.79	1	3
7		7.51	1	3
8		7.41	1	4
9		7.70	1	10
10		8.13	1	10