1DS: Great British Bake Off recap, by TomlinsonT2

Would Tory win Star Quizzer, or get knocked out in a technical challenge?

Hi! This is Tory Tomlinson (TomlinsonT2) from Rundle A Delta. I am not a good baker, but the Great British Bake Off was my emotional support show for a long time and I still regularly watch episodes while folding laundry. I have seen most of the seasons multiple times, so you can imagine how my eyes lit up when I saw this 1DS on the schedule. On your marks, get set, bake!

1. Bake-off or Baking Show? In the United States and Canada, The Great British Bake-Off is known as The Great British Baking Show because of a trademark owned by WHAT company?

I’m curious to see how aware of this non-American Llamas are. In the US, if you buy boxed cakes or watch morning tv shows, you probably know about the Pillsbury Bake-Off. 

My answer: Pillsbury

Correct answer: Pillsbury

Percent incorrect: 37%

Money: No

I’d love to see a geographical breakdown of that 37%!

2. Beginning in season 11, GBBO has begun to theme weeks after cuisines from different countries. Unfortunately, all three of the themed weeks have been marred by accusations of cultural appropriation, insensitivity, and inauthentic dishes. Name any one of the national cuisines that have been featured so far.

I’m pretty sure they did Germany, but the most recent debacle was Mexican week, which started with an insultingly reductive segment involving sombreros, pretended tacos were a baking challenge, and involved numerous mispronunciations (and a baker peeling an avocado like it was a potato). It was painful to watch. I thought about moneying this, but Mexican week was just last season and people might be able to guess one of the three right answers.

My answer: Mexico 

Correct answer: Japan, Germany, Mexico

Percent incorrect: 13%

Money: No

3. Referred to as "Bingate," the incident that sparked Iain Watters' controversial elimination in Season 5 seemingly began when fellow contestant Diana Beard removed his ice cream from the freezer, causing it to not set in time. Watters then disposed of the ice cream in the bin and presented it to the judges, leading to his elimination. WHAT dish had he been tasked to create?

Everyone involved in making the show will tell you that Iain’s ice cream wasn’t out of the freezer for long and his failure to make a proper Baked Alaska wasn’t really Diana’s fault. The edit did Diana no favors. I didn’t really want to money this because this incident is (in)famous, but I thought some others would play easier.

My answer: Baked Alaska

Correct answer: Baked Alaska

Percent incorrect: 20%

Money: Yes

4. The illustrations accompanying contestants' descriptions of their proposed bakes have been created since the beginning of the show by what artist? An example is shown below.

I should have expected a question about these artworks! I remember checking out the artist’s website, but I can’t remember his name. I’ll be shocked if this doesn’t have the lowest get-rate of the day.

My answer: Smith

Correct answer: Tom Hovey

Percent incorrect: 96%!

Money: No

5. The most recent season, season 13, featured, for the first time, a week themed after a holiday. Name this holiday, which is known more for sweet treats than baked goods.

Another question about the most recent season! Maybe that will make it play easier than it might otherwise? The sweet treat is a good hint; I also remember my kid saying that it was a shame they didn’t do this in season 10, when goth queen Helena made just about every week look like Halloween week.

My answer: Halloween

Correct answer: Halloween

Percent incorrect: 26%

Money: No

6. A handshake from judge Paul Hollywood, also known as the "Hollywood Handshake" is one of the most prized rewards on the show. Across all 13 seasons, only two bakers have earned a record 3 handshakes. One is Dan Beasley-Harling, and the other is the eventual winner of season 9 and the first person to earn a handshake in a Showstopper Challenge (although this feat was repeated shortly after). WHO is this other baker? First name only is acceptable.

Rahul was the baker with the biggest gap between his ability and his self-confidence. He made the most beautiful, elaborately-decorated bakes and was almost always sure he was getting eliminated. And when Paul called him up after this Showstopper, he thought he was in trouble rather than making Bake Off history. I follow Rahul on Instagram, where he continues to make preposterous bakes and express doubt about them.

My answer: Rahul

Correct answer: Rahul Mandal

Percent incorrect: 61%

Money: Yes. I hoped that casual viewers would struggle to remember names.

7. WHAT award is bestowed by the judges every episode to the contestant with the best bakes of the week?

This is star baker. Oddly, of the four people who have been named star baker three weeks in a row, only one won their season (Syabira, in season 13).

My answer: Star baker

Correct answer: Star Baker

Percent incorrect: 10%

Money: No

8. Arguably one of the most famous and popular winners of GBBO, this Season 6 winner has published a children's book, Bake Me a Story, that was shortlisted for the Children's Book of the Year award at the British Book Awards, baked a cake for Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday, and gone on to host multiple TV cooking shows. Name this winner. First name only is acceptable.

The season 6 cast is among my favorites, but the reason I have watched that season more than any others is Nadiya, who started out slowly and got better almost every week. She is somehow both charismatic and relatably human and just an overall delight.

My answer: Nadiya

Correct answer: Nadiya Hussain

Percent incorrect: 35%

Money: Yes. I hoped that she is more famous in the UK than elsewhere.

9. Producer Anna Beattie was inspired to create our beloved show by a classic British festival event, often held in village greens and garden spaces. These events are often used to raise funds for charities and frequently feature carnival games, raffles, and competitive baking contests. Name this type of event.

I have never been to one, but I have watched enough British tv to know that this is a village fete. 

My answer: Village fete

Correct answer: Fete

Percent incorrect: 76%

Money: Yes. Again hoping that non-UK Llamas might not know this.

10. Presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins along with judge Mary Berry left GBBO following its move off of BBC One to the network it currently airs on. To WHAT network did GBBO move to?

This move was controversial at the time; the BBC couldn’t match the bags of money Channel 4 threw at the producers of the Bake Off.

My answer: Channel 4

Correct answer: Channel 4

Percent incorrect: 49%

Money: No. It was a close call between this and the ones that asked for names, but I should have moneyed this instead of Nadiya or Baked Alaska.

11. Of the three weekly challenges for bakers, only one is a complete mystery beforehand and offers no opportunity for bakers to practice. Name this challenge, which frequently features obscure bakes, sometimes controversial cooks, and is often thought of as the most difficult challenge.

Like star baker, this should be a slam dunk for anyone who has seen the show more than once or twice. This is the technical challenge.

My answer: Technical challenge

Correct answer: Technical challenge

Percent incorrect: 10%

Money: No

12. In Season 9, the season is kicked off with a skit using the time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future to stop the season's winner from being tweeted out and spoiling viewers, referencing a real life incident from one of the judges for Season 8. WHAT was the name of the season 8 winner that was tweeted about? First name only is acceptable.

I assumed this would be the second-hardest question (after #4), but it helped that I am terminally online. I try to avoid GBBO spoilers while it’s on in the UK, but I couldn’t dodge the twitter kerfuffle after Prue got her time zone math wrong and tweeted that Sophie had won hours before the final aired.

My answer: Sophie 

Correct answer: Sophie Faldo

Percent incorrect: 83%

Money: Yes

Result: 11/12, 440 points, 31st place. I’m very happy with that and now also have the munchies. If only I had a Victoria sponge handy….