The best seasons of The Great British Baking Show you can watch right now

The Great British Bake Off (called The Great British Baking Show in the USA and Canada) hardly needs an introduction. The baking contest is an absolute treat; Each season, a handful of home bakers pose a series of themed baking challenges to determine the winner. The series won the hearts of its viewers by focusing on the bakers’ personal stories and skills rather than creating competitive chaos.

Although each of the seasons offers the ultimate comfort watch, some of them rise above the rest – much like the layers of a good cake. We’ve rounded up our favorites, including two holiday periods that we think are must-sees. It’s worth noting that UK season 4 is US season 1. We will stick to the former. And if you want to stream them, Roku has UK seasons 1-7while Netflix has UK seasons 8-13 (but calls them collections 5-10).

season 4

Image: PBS

Why we think it’s great: Series 4 was the second season to air in the US and it was the first that made me fall in love with the show. That was back in the halcyon days of Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins hosting the show, with Mary Berry as Paul Hollywood’s better half on the judge’s side (who helped temper some of his harsher criticism or outrageous attitudes). i miss how baking used to take the space to give some lessons about baking history, or some context about the geography of where the cake comes from. These sessions were actually informative and added to the experience of learning about baking as a science and an art form rather than just admiring good baked goods. In addition to the educational segments, Mary and Paul held “master classes” where they addressed the challenges they posed to the bakers, which gave great additional context to what we were seeing.

favorite moment: I would be remiss not to mention Ruby Tandoh. A teenager at the time of filming, Tandoh published great books and was a general presence of good in a potentially toxic industry. This is less “a moment” and more a “series of moments that have happened since the show aired,” but I’m happy about it nonetheless. —pete people

season 5

Image: Roku

Why we think it’s great: This is the sweet spot for GOT IT: The cakes are not finicky or overly gimmicky. Mary Berry is here. Mel and Sue are at their silliest and dirtiest side. Paul has yet to become unbearable with his constant handshakes. The list of bakers is also excellent thanks to the late great Luis; the humble builder and lover of small pencils Richard; the charming, inventive Chetna; Baking wonder Martha, for whom it is impossible not to share the excitement; and old Norman who really tried! But it’s the dependable baking of Nancy Birtwhistle who’s nailed flavor and execution — and who’s made chocolate-coated donuts with faces on them during Advanced Dough Week — and won on talent and perfectionism.

favorite moment: Like Marie Kondo, I love chaos and this season is messy. Season 5 is infamous for Iain tossing his botched baked Alaska in the trash, a truly memorable moment of collapse (which sadly led to his fellow contestant Diana being targeted by online trolls) that sealed his departure. The show is similarly satisfying to watch knowing that Jordan, my nemesis who is unaware of my existence, will be kicked off the show. I don’t care if it makes me sound mean! — Michael McWhertor

season 6

Image: Roku

Why we think it’s great: As one of the many self-taught bakers who became culinary stars through the series, only a few baking No contestants have ever been as warm and charismatic as Nadiya Hussain. Since appearing on the show, she’s hosted a documentary and several cooking shows, and has generally become a fixture in the UK baking universe – and we’re all better off. Other talented contestants like Tamal Ray and Ian Cumming were also charming, but let’s face it: this was Nadiya’s season. Bonus points for still being in the era of Mel and Sue and Mary, master classes and all.

favorite moment: Alternate Ingredients Week. My household has dietary restrictions and it was fun to see the bakers regularly address the challenges we face. —pete people

season 9

Image: Netflix

Why we think it’s great: baking Seasons can converge. There are only so many times that you can be introduced to the shy, insecure candidate with startlingly incredible skills before they mix. But Season 9, which saw so many Star Baker titles go to scene-stealing talent Rahul Mandal, is the standout of that particular genre of contestants.

favorite moment: I’m not usually emotionally involved in the outcome of the contest – may the best baker win! But in one of the Season 9 cutaway scenes, it’s revealed that Rahul has no family to travel to the event, and so this young first-generation immigrant’s guests of honor are simply the elderly couple who live next door. In that moment, I knew I was just going to do it die if he doesn’t make it to the final. —Suzanne Polo

season 12

Image: Netflix

Why we think it’s great: This season is characterized by its outstanding participants, all of whom I have enjoyed watching as they bake delicious cakes. I feel like GOT IT took a minute to regain momentum with the introduction of new host Matt Lucas (who has since departed). But I think we can all agree that the showdown between Italian engineer Giuseppe Dell’Anno and German physicist Jürgen Krauss was the highlight of the season. Both were incredibly nice and reserved, and ultimately incredibly fun to watch.

favorite moment: I lived for every time the camera panned to Giuseppe and Jürgen, each using protractors and rulers for their cheeks. Jürgen also plays trombone and although that’s not in season I love that Japanese Breakfast invited him to perform with her in London. —Nicole Clark

season 13

Image: Netflix

Why we think it’s great: This was another season of big personalities, from Janusz’s quips to Carole’s optimism despite the fumbling. Though the season had its low points — let’s all forget that Mexican week happened — it was also joy to see a season where the semifinalists were all people of color. All three were incredibly talented, right down to Syabira Yusoff, who kept blowing everyone away with her innovative ideas and delicious flavors in the second half of the season. I just wish the judges would stop calling her palette “so unusual.”

favorite moment: It’s a tie between Syabira, who was stunned every time she won a Star Baker, and every time Janusz was funnier than the show’s own hosts. (He’s on TikTokby the way.) –Nicole Clark

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 3, “The Great Festive Baking Show”

Image: Netflix

Why we think it’s great: This episode stars the cast of TV’s best comedy (Don’t Fight Me), Derry girls. It’s hysterical because the cast is absolutely wonderful; It’s hard to determine if they are all in character or if the show characters are fair you, but that’s part of what makes it so fun. Shocking no one, Nicola Coughlan (who plays Clare Devlin) seems to have the most brains when it comes to baking.

favorite moment: Can I say everything? baking The participants are usually extremely accomplished home bakers who provide incredibly detailed explanations of their process and inspirations. As the camera pans to Siobhán McSweeney (who plays Sister George Michael), she says, “I put my sponge in the oven, it’s on. And I put it in until it’s baked.” At length! We like it. If I really had to pick a moment, it would probably be McSweeney reaching out to Paul Hollywood to stare at him and walk away. —Nicole Clark

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 5, “The Great Festive Baking Show”

Image: Netflix

Why we think it’s great: The Great British Bake OffThe holiday consequences of are absolutely underestimated. I like them because they are a very sweet check-in with some of the show’s best and most charming contestants. The big New Year’s Eve baking Episode 2022 titled “The Great Festive Baking Show” under the The Great British Baking Show: Bank Holidays Listing on Netflix is ​​my favorite of all because it features two of my absolute favorite contestants, Hermione from season 11 and Kim-Joy from season 9.

favorite moment: When Hermione gets a Paul Hollywood handshake for her apricot custard streusel breakfast sandwiches – she got robbed in her regular season and while that’s not right, it’s satisfying to watch. Kim-Joy has been making extraordinarily cute desserts all along, too, but her eye-catcher is a marvel: it’s made up of cookies and stars, polar bear Paul and penguin Prue, right down to the judge’s signature red glasses. A Kim Joy classic, there’s also a panda in the scene. —Nicole Carpenter