The Great Australian Bake Off is an Australian television baking series that is based on the BBC baking competition The Great British Bake Off.[1]
| The Great Australian Bake Off | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Baking, cooking |
| Presented by |
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| Judges |
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| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 68 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Lara Hopkins (2013) Nicole Rogers (2016-2018) Alenka Henry (2021-2023) Emily Commens (2024-) |
| Production locations | Werribee Park Mansion (2013) Yaralla Estate (2015) Sydney, New South Wales (2018-) |
| Cinematography | Sam Collines (2013) Steve Davis (2021-) |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies | Love Productions (2013) Fremantle Australia (2015-2019) BBC Studios Australia (2021-) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nine Network (2013) LifeStyle Food (2015-2016) LifeStyle (2018-) |
| Release | 9 July 2013 – present |
The series first premiered on 9 July 2013 on the Nine Network and ran for one season with presenters Shane Jacobson and Anna Gare and judges Dan Lepard and Kerry Vincent.[2] On 1 April 2015, it was announced that the series had been picked up by pay television channel LifeStyle Food and production company FremantleMedia Australia for a second season which premiered on 13 October 2015 with presenters Claire Hooper and Mel Buttle and judges Maggie Beer and Matt Moran.[3][4] Another three seasons aired on LifeStyle Food and LifeStyle between 2016 and 2019.
In December 2020, there was speculation the series was to be picked up by the Seven Network for its sixth season,[5] however in March 2021, Foxtel was in “advanced discussions” for a series return.[6] In June 2021, it was officially renewed by Foxtel with auditions open from June to 18 July 2021, with BBC Studios Australia taking over production from Fremantle Australia.[7] The sixth season premiered on 27 January 2022.[8]
On 4 August 2022, Foxtel announced a new-look seventh season had been commissioned, to air in 2023 with filming commencing in September. Maggie Beer, Matt Moran, Claire Hooper and Mel Buttle[9] are departing the show, with new judges and hosts to be announced. On 30 August 2022 Foxtel revealed pastry chef Darren Purchese and culinary expert Rachel Khoo as the show's new judges, with comedians Cal Wilson and Natalie Tran to host.[10] The seventh season premiered on 13 June 2023.[11][12] Maggie Beer made a guest appearance in the seventh season.[13] The eighth season, filmed earlier in 2023, will air in 2024 and will be the second and final appearance of Cal Wilson as host as she died in October 2023.[14][15]
Format
The programme operates on a weekly elimination process to find the best all-round amateur baker from the contestants, where in each episode the bakers are tasked with 3 different challenges; a signature bake, a technical bake and a show-stopper. The bakes are critically examined by the judges who will then choose a "Star Baker" and a baker that is eliminated from the competition. Ten contestants were chosen for the first season, and twelve contestants were chosen for each subsequent season.
- Signature Challenge: This challenge is for the amateur bakers to show off their tried-and-tested recipes that are rustic and altogether home-made-looking.
- Technical Challenge: This challenge shows who can follow instructions, but who also has the technical knowledge and experience to produce the finished product. The bakers are all given the same recipe and are not told beforehand what the challenge will be. The finished product is ranked from worst to best, with the judges not knowing who produced which.
- Showstopper Challenge: This challenge is for the bakers to show off their skills and talent. The judges are looking for a bake that is both of a professional appearance but also in taste.
Hosts and judges
| Hosts/Judges | Season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| Shane Jacobson | Host | ||||||
| Anna Gare | Host | ||||||
| Dan Lepard | Judge | ||||||
| Kerry Vincent | Judge | ||||||
| Claire Hooper[1] | Host | ||||||
| Mel Buttle[1] | Host | ||||||
| Maggie Beer[16] | Judge | Guest | |||||
| Matt Moran[1] | Judge | ||||||
| Cal Wilson | Host | ||||||
| Natalie Tran | Host | ||||||
| Darren Purchese | Judge | ||||||
| Rachel Khoo | Judge | ||||||
Season overview
| Season | Network | Originally Aired | Runners-up | Winner | Prize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiere | Finale | |||||
| One | Nine Network | 9 July 2013 | 27 August 2013 | Jonathan Gurfinkel | Nancy Ho | Kitchen Renovation |
| Maria Vella | Retreat Holiday | |||||
| Two | LifeStyle Food | 13 October 2015 | 15 December 2015 | Jasmin Hartley | Sian Redgrave | None |
| Susie Stefanidis | ||||||
| Three | 11 October 2016 | 14 December 2016 | Monica Cavallaro | Olivia McMahon | ||
| Antonio Marcora | ||||||
| Four | LifeStyle | 18 January 2018 | 22 March 2018 | Barb Dunn | Claudia Anton | |
| Dave Yan | ||||||
| Five | 3 October 2019 | 5 December 2019 | David Hills | Sunny Nasir Ahmad | ||
| Dan Pasquali | ||||||
| Six | 27 January 2022 | 31 March 2022 | Aaron Hawton | Ella Rossanis | ||
| Nurman Noor | ||||||
| Seven | 13 June 2023 | 15 August 2023 | Adam Miller | Laura Foo | "Ultimate Bakers' Kitchen" by Smeg | |
| Ilona Nicola | ||||||
Season 1 (2013)
Season 1 of The Great Australian Bake Off saw 10 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 9 July 2013 until 27 August 2013.
The three finalists were Jonathan Gurfinkel, Nancy Ho, Maria Vella. On 27 August 2013, Nancy Ho was selected as the best amateur baker.[17]
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Ho | 22 | Architecture Graduate | Brisbane, Queensland | Season Winner |
| Jonathan Gurfinkel | 35 | I.T. Guy | Melbourne, Victoria | Season Runner-Up |
| Maria Vella | 45 | Workplace Trainer | Melbourne, Victoria | Season Runner-Up |
| Monique Bowley | 30 | Former WNBL Star | Adelaide, South Australia | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Brendan Garlick | 21 | Uni Student | Springwood, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Julie Bonanno | 41 | Farm Mum | Shepparton, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 5) |
| Mark Bartter | 52 | Chartered Accountant | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Sara-Jane Smith | 30 | School Teacher | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 3) |
| Bliss Nixon | 23 | Trivia Host | Gold Coast, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Steve Lovett | 28 | Boxer | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | Eliminated (Episode 1) |
Season 2 (2015)
Season 2 of The Great Australian Bake Off saw 12 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 13 October 2015 until 15 December 2015.[18]
The three finalists were Jasmin Hartley, Sian Redgrave, and Suzy Stefanidis. On 15 December 2015, Sian Redgrave was selected as the best amateur baker.[19]
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sian Redgrave | 23 | Fashion boutique stylist | Perth, Western Australia | Season Winner |
| Jasmin Hartley | 27 | Barista | Mackay, Queensland | Season Runner-Up |
| Suzy Stefanidis | 45 | Stay at home mum | Melbourne, Victoria | Season Runner-Up |
| Angela Fleay | 47 | Truck driver | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 9) |
| James Dunsmore | 31 | Food historian | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 8) |
| Nathan Taylor | 19 | Student | Perth, WA | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Benjamin "Ben" Brown | 37 | Mining inventory planner | Emerald, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Brendan Eilola | 43 | IT specialist | Brisbane, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 5) |
| Janice Tan | 34 | Management consultant | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Meghan "Meg" Moorcroft | 20 | Student | Adelaide, South Australia | Eliminated (Episode 3) |
| Mariana Gates | 55 | Volunteer worker | Gold Coast, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Dr. Peter "Pete" Rankin | 58 | Doctor | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 1) |
Season 3 (2016)
Season 3 of The Great Australian Bake Off saw 12 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 11 October 2016 until 14 December 2016.[20]
The three finalists were Monica Cavallaro, Antonio Marcona, and Olivia McMahon. On 13 December 2016, Olivia McMahon was selected as the best amateur baker.[21]
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olivia McMahon | 37 | Fine Dining Waitress | Brisbane, Queensland | Season Winner |
| Monica Cavallaro | 43 | Retail Manager | Sydney, New South Wales | Season Runner-Up |
| Antonio Marcora | 16 | School Student | Sydney, New South Wales | Season Runner-Up |
| Liesel Morgan | 20 | University Student | Perth, Western Australia | Eliminated (Episode 9) |
| Fiona Nguyen | 32 | Patent & Trademark Lawyer | Brisbane, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 8) |
| James Rudd | 26 | IT Technical Support | Perth, Western Australia | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Noel Button | 59 | Retired Teacher | Launceston, Tasmania | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Jeremy Allan | 30 | Welding & Vessel Inspector | Adelaide, South Australia | Eliminated (Episode 5) |
| Bojan Petrovic | 37 | Tow Truck Business Owner | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Diana Gyllen | 29 | Model | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 3) |
| Cheryl Roberts | 59 | Horse Trainer | Berry, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Janette Betts | 62 | Palliative Care Nurse | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 1) |
Season 4 (2018)
Season 4 of The Great Australian Bake Off saw 12 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 18 January 2018 until 22 March 2018.[22][23]
The three finalists were Claudia Anton, Barb Dunn, and Dave Yan. On 22 March 2018, Claudia Anton was selected as the best amateur baker.[24]
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudia Anton | 48 | Psychiatrist | Melbourne, Victoria | Season Winner |
| Barbara "Barb" Dunn | 37 | Finance manager | Brisbane, Queensland | Season Runner-Up |
| Dave Yan | 35 | Chartered Accountant | Sydney, New South Wales | Season Runner-Up |
| Christopher "Chris" Asquith | 32 | System administrator | Newcastle, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 9) |
| Raeesa Khatree | 37 | Health store worker (former lawyer) | Brisbane, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 8) |
| Robert Harwood | 34 | I.T. administrator | Perth, Western Australia | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Marcus Matear | 27 | Dentist | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Michelle Trevorrow | 64 | Retiree | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 5) |
| Emma Sievwright | 23 | Science graduate | Brisbane, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Max Fetiveau | 28 | Plasterer | Brisbane, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 3) |
| Alexander "Alex" Papadopoulos | 47 | Building material importer | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Jessica Osborne | 28 | Sales co-ordinator | Brisbane, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 1) |
Season 5 (2019)
Season 5 of The Great Australian Bake Off saw 12 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 3 October 2019 until 5 December 2019.[25]
The three finalists were Subha Nasir Ahmad, David Hills, and Daniel Pasquali. On 5 December 2019, Subha Nasir Ahmad was selected as the best amateur baker.[26]
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subha "Sunny" Nasir Ahmad | 26 | PHD Science Student | Sydney, New South Wales | Season Winner |
| Daniel "Dan" Pasquali | 35 | Research Scientist | Brisbane, Queensland | Season Runner-Up |
| David Hills | 41 | Project Manager | Melbourne, Victoria | Season Runner-Up |
| Donald "Don" Hackett | 55 | Superannuation Consultant | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 9) |
| Angela Navacchi | 36 | Housewife | Adelaide, South Australia | Eliminated (Episode 8) |
| Wynn Visser | 36 | Disability Services Manager | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Anston Ratnayake | 28 | Student Voice Officer | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Sue Dahman | 70 | Retired Bank Manager | Sydney, New South Wales | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Laura Peters | 22 | Cafe Manager | New South Wales | Left (Episode 3) |
| Dennis Mews | 71 | Retired Maths Teacher | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 3) |
| Annette Peffers | 48 | Account Manager | Gold Coast, Queensland | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Zee Scott | 39 | Marriage Celebrant | Melbourne, Victoria | Eliminated (Episode 1) |
Season 6 (2022)
Season 6 of The Great Australian Bake Off saw 12 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 27 January 2022 until 31 March 2022.[8]
The three finalists were Aaron Hawton, Nurman Noor, and Ella Rossanis. On 31 March 2022, Ella Rossanis was selected as the best amateur baker.[27]
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ella Rossanis | 35 | Creative Copywriter | Season Winner |
| Aaron Hawton | 31 | High School Teacher | Season Runner-Up |
| Nurman Noor | 35 | General Practitioner | Season Runner-Up |
| Hoda Alzubaidi | 28 | Publishing Sales | Eliminated (Episode 9) |
| Jawin Ratchawong | 27 | Public Servant | Eliminated (Episode 8) |
| Carmel Scassa | 48 | Document Controller | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Haydn Allbutt | 46 | Scientist & Stay-at-home Dad | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Ashley Callaghan | 30 | Retired Navy Veteran | Left (Episode 5) |
| Naveid 'Nav' Zarshoy | 32 | Recruitment Consultant | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Blessing Mudzikitiri | 19 | Disability Support Worker | Eliminated (Episode 3) |
| Tom Mosby | 52 | CEO | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Lidia Morosin | 62 | Retail Sales | Eliminated (Episode 1) |
Season 7 (2023)
Season 7 of The Great Australian Bake Off saw 12 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season aired from 13 June 2023 until 15 August 2023.[11]
The three finalists were Laura Foo, Adam Miller, and Ilona Nicola. On 15 August 2023, Laura Foo was selected as the best amateur baker.[28]
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Foo | 26 | Management Consultant | VIC | Season Winner |
| Adam Miller | 37 | Communications Manager | VIC | Season Runner-Up |
| Ilona Nicola | 41 | Health Policy Advisor | VIC | Season Runner-Up |
| Sandra Walter | 59 | Manager | QLD | Eliminated (Episode 9) |
| Neil Higgins | 42 | Scale Technician | WA | Eliminated (Episode 8) |
| Reem El Daouk | 20 | Student | VIC | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Galya Dissanayake | 34 | Channel Marketer | NSW | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Gavin Turner | 58 | Team Leader | QLD | Eliminated (Episode 5) |
| Felicity Dobson | 38 | Learning And Development Manager | WA | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Laurent La | 37 | Sales Assistant | QLD | Eliminated (Episode 3) |
| Natalie Levy | 41 | Self-Employed | NSW | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Guillermo Urra | 41 | Flight Attendant | VIC | Eliminated (Episode 1) |
Ratings
| Season | Network | Episodes | Premiere | Finale | Average viewers | Average rank | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Ratings | Rank | Date | Ratings | Rank | ||||||
| 1 | Nine Network | 8 | 9 July 2013 | 1,119,000 | #5 | 27 August 2013 | 760,000 | #13 | 834,000 | #12 | [29][30] |
| 2 | Lifestyle Food | 10 | 13 October 2015 | 104,000 | #1 | 15 December 2015 | 136,000 | #1 | 108,000 | #1 | [31][32] |
| 3 | 11 October 2016 | 96,000 | #3 | 13 December 2016 | 140,000 | #1 | 108,000 | #2 | [33][34] | ||
| 4 | LifeStyle | 18 January 2018 | 103,000 | #1 | 22 March 2018 | 162,000 | #3 | 106,000 | #2 | [35][36] | |
| 5 | 3 October 2019 | 110,000 | #1 | 5 December 2019 | 95,000 | #1 | 95,000 | #1 | [37][38] | ||
| 6 | 27 January 2022 | 73,000 | #1 | 31 March 2022 | 62,000 | #5 | 62,000 | #3 | [39][40] | ||
| 7 | 13 June 2023 | 50,000 | #3 | 15 August 2023 | 47,000 | #3 | 51,000 | #2 | [41] | ||
Broadcast
| Season | Network | Originally aired | Episodes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiere | Finale | |||
| 1 | Nine Network | 9 July 2013 | 27 August 2013 | 8 |
| 2 | LifeStyle Food | 13 October 2015 | 15 December 2015 | 10 |
| 3 | 11 October 2016 | 13 December 2016 | ||
| 4 | LifeStyle | 18 January 2018 | 22 March 2018 | |
| 5 | 3 October 2019 | 5 December 2019 | ||
| 6 | 27 January 2022 | 31 March 2022 | ||
| 7 | 13 June 2023 | 15 August 2023 | ||
