The first series of The Great British Bake Off first aired on BBC Two on 17 August 2010. Ten home bakers took part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be designated the best amateur baker. Each week the programme bakers participated in three challenges in a particular discipline, with some being eliminated at the end of each episode. The rounds of the competition took place in various locations across the UK following a theme, for example, the episode on puddings took place in Bakewell, bread baking would take place near Sandwich. This first series had a voiceover by Stephen Noonan; for the subsequent series this role was taken by the on-screen presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. The competition was won by Edd Kimber.
Colour key:
For the first challenge, the bakers were instructed to bake any cake they want using their creativity within 3 hours. It had to be evenly baked, evenly risen, and moist. For the technical challenge, the bakers were to make a Victoria Sandwich using Mary Berry's recipe. For the final challenge, the showstopper challenge, the bakers were required to make a Chocolate Celebration Cake, with perfect execution, original ideas and their own flair.
For the signature bake, the bakers were asked to bake their Signature Personality Biscuits within 2 hours. The technical challenge required them to bake scones using Paul Hollywood's recipe within 1 hour. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to produce three different Petit Fours: Meringues, Choux Pastry, and Macarons, within 4 hours.
For their signature bake, the bakers were given hours to produce their signature bread loaf. The technical challenge required them to bake a traditional round cob loaf, using Paul's recipe in hours. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake 12 sweet rolls and 12 savoury rolls, with three flavours of each, within 6 hours.
For the first challenge, the bakers were asked to bake their own classic pudding, steamed or baked, in hours. In the technical challenge, the bakers were required to use Mary's recipe to bake four miniature lemon souffles within 40 minutes. The bakers started to bake at different time intervals. The showstopper gave the bakers 5 hours to produce three puddings: crumble, bread, and suet.
For the signature challenge, the bakers were asked to bake a savoury pie in hours. For the technical challenge, the bakers were asked to bake 4 Cornish pasties in hours. For the showstopper, the bakers were asked to bake 2 pastry platters containing savory canapés and sweet tartlets<nowiki/> in 5 hours.
In the final, one of the three finalists was eliminated after the first bake, and only two bakers competed in the final day. For the first challenge, they were asked to bake 24 professional-quality miniature cakes in hours. For the final challenge, the 2 finalists were given 5 hours to bake 24 miniature tarts, 24 scones, 24 choux buns, and 24 brown and white bread finger sandwiches for afternoon tea on the garden lawn for 40 guests (including all the bakers from earlier rounds).
It took the judges nearly five hours to determine whom to eliminate, and had to look back at their performances over the series as a whole to make a decision. The idea of eliminating a contestant in the final was dropped from future series.
After winning the competition, Edd Kimber is able to make his living from baking. He worked in the pastry kitchen at Raymond Blanc's restaurant Le Manoir. He has written three books on baking, The Boy Who Bakes, Say It With Cake, and Patisserie Made Simple: From Macaron to Millefeuille and More. He has taught macaron making classes in London, run a pop-up bakery in Fortnum & Mason, and appeared as a 'resident baker' on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Ruth Clemens has written a number of books on cake making and baking, including Busy Girls Guide to Cake Decorating, The Pink Whisk Guide to Cake Making, The Pink Whisk Guide to Baking and Creative ÃÂclairs.
Miranda Gore Browne wrote a book, Biscuit, published on 5 April 2012. Her second book, Bake Me a Cake as Fast as You Can, was published in August 2014.
Jonathan Shepherd left his job in the pharmaceutical company and launched a new business, The Pudding Stop, in St Albans. It started as a portable street-food vendor and a supplier of puddings to restaurants. Shepherd has since also opened a shop, also in St Albans.
Mark Whithers, who was eliminated in Episode 1, died on 11 May 2013 after suffering from cancer.
Lea Harris participated in the 2024 rendition of The Great New Year's Bake Off.
In this one-off special edition, the three finalists from series one (Edd, Ruth and Miranda) returned. Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry set them the challenge of making and baking two spectacular Wedding Cakes each in just sixteen hours, one being traditional and the other contemporary. Paul and Mary explore the history of the Great British Wedding Cake, looking at the dramatic changes through the eras; from the Tudors and the Victorians, wartime Britain and the eighties to the present day. Although Paul and Mary judged the results, no individual winner was declared.
Official episode viewing figures are from BARB.