What week is it on Bake Off? Each Great British Bake Off theme, week by week

All of the Bake Off contestants from 2023: Saku, Dan, Cristy, Josh, Rowan, Abbi, Amos, Dana, Nicky, Matty, Tasha and Keith.

The Great British Bake Off pushes amateur bakers to their limits, challenging them to create bakes from delicate pastries to hearty breads.

Each week contestants face a new theme, from cakes to biscuits and even vegan creations. However, viewers shouldn't anticipate any national-themed challenges with showrunners scrapping the format following backlash over last year's Mexican week.

Here, we keep you up to date with what theme Bake Off is each week.

Week One: Cakes

Following tradition during their first time in the tent, the bakers were challenged with cake week.

First up, during the signature challenge bakers were tasked with creating a vertical layer cake, with thin layers of sponge rolled up with layers of creamy filling in between.

The bakers waiting for feedback on their technical challenge chocolate cakes during Week One. Image: Channel 4/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon

During the technical challenge bakers were required to create one of the most iconic symbols of the show, The Great British Bake Off cake which appears in the title screen. Known for its missing raspberry it was down to the bakers whether they included it or not in their chocolate fudge cake.

Finally for the Showstopper contestants were asked to create an animal shaped cake.

Dan was awarded star baker, while Amos was sent home.

Week Two: Biscuits

During biscuit week in the tent, there was the promise of drama in the air with one contestant allegedly using another's dough. But first bakers had to take on a signature challenge and create marshmallow biscuits, such as a teacake or Wagon Wheel.

The technical challenge was trickier, with Prue Leith asking for twelve perfect custard creams - which is where dough disaster was averted quickly by eagle-eyed Rowan noticed Cristy had been rolling out his mix.

Then for the Showstopper, burgers, sorry, illusion biscuits were on the menu, with contestants creating a series of biscuits resembling other food items from breakfasts to pizza.

Tasha was star baker during biscuit week, while Keith unfortunately left the Bake Off tent.

Week Three: Bread

Bread week in the Bake Off tent saw the ten remaining contestants battling it out to win Star Baker. During the signature challenge they were tasked with creating cottage loaves; two stacked cobbs which were packed full of flavour and perfectly proved.

During the technical, Paul challenged them to create eight perfectly consistent Devonshire split buns. But it was during the Showstopper challenge, where bakers were asked to create a braided bread centrepiece with two different types of flour, that contestants were tying themselves in knots.

Once again Tasha was awarded star baker, while Abbi ended up going home.

Week Four: Chocolate

The Great British Bake Off aired on Wednesday instead of Tuesday due to football, with bakers struggling to rein in their tempers during chocolate week. For their signature challenge they were asked to create chocolate tortes with no wheat flour, while for the technical, Prue set them a tricky cheesecake task.

For the showstopper, the contestants presented their very own chocolate box creations, complete with cake and their own special chocolates.

Matty impressed the judges enough during chocolate week to earn star baker, but with Tasha leaving halfway through no one went home resulting in a double eviction during week five.

Week Five: Pastry

Pastry week is always a challenge for bakers as there are many, many things which can easily go wrong. For the signature challenge, contestants had to create 12 picnic pies with water crust pastry, avoiding overfilling and underfilling their pies.

Paul asked bakers to create a dauphinoise potato and caramelised onion pithivier - a French pastry - during the technical, while the showstopper saw them creating a sweet pie display.

Cristy, for the first time, became star baker during pastry week, while both Nicky and Rowan exited the tent.

Week Six: Botanical

A tricky theme full of floral elements and spice, botanical week kicked off with a spiced bun signature challenge. From cinnamon to cardamom, bakers were tasked with making 12 identical buns with an enriched dough. In the technical, Prue asked for a lemon and thyme drizzle cake - flavoured appropriately with the botanical.

However, it was the floral showstopper, which was to feature a significant baking element, which challenged their creativity.

After his consistent performance Josh was finally awarded star baker during botanical week, while Dana ended up leaving the competition.

Week Seven: Dessert

As the end looms closer, bakers took on dessert week and what followed had to be one of the most interesting episodes of Bake Off for all the wrong reasons. Off to a good start, contestants were asked to make eight creme caramel desserts with additional flavours and the perfect wobbly texture.

But it was the technical which proved to be a "car crash", in Noel's words, that led to Paul "roasting" the bakers. Tasked with creating steamed orange and ginger treacle puddings, most bakers ended up with inedible results which led to the judges all but dismissing the challenge. The meringue bombe showstopper proved more effective, with additional sharing desserts to be encased in their large shells.

While the disastrous dessert week proved too much for Saku who left on the cusp of the quarter final, it was Dan who was awarded star baker for the second time.

Week Eight: Party Bakes

During the quarter-final, party week, bakers were being challenged with a wide variety of tasks, from sweet treats to snack food staples. In the signature challenge, Paul wanted the five remaining contestants to impress him with their take on the humble sausage roll. The theme of rolls continued in the technical with bakers asked to make a caterpillar cake.

However, it was the showstopper which proved to be the toughest hurdle yet. The judges asked for both sweet and savoury bakes which met their colourful "anything but beige" challenge.

It was a tough call on who would be awarded star baker, with Matty just beating out Josh, while Cristy said goodbye to the Bake Off tent after a disappointing week.

Week Nine: Patisserie

Following Bake Off tradition, patisserie week served as the semi-final. Bakers were to make delicate financier sponges for the signature with a tarte au pomme technical challenge, issued by Prue.

However, the Millefoglie showstopper truly put the bakers through their paces. In four hours, they had to produce perfect puff pastry as well as delicate decorations and fillings.

It was a tough competition, but Josh was awarded star baker, despite Dan receiving a Hollywood handshake. However, it was Tasha who was the last baker to leave the tent before the final.

Week Ten: The Final

The final episode of this year's Great British Bake Off will air on Tuesday, November 28. As for what the final will entail? We'll just have to watch and find out.