The Great British Bake Off Series 2: Episode Guide & Ratings

Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding welcome 12 contestants to the tent, where judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith oversee them in three challenges. This year, the competition kicks off with Biscuit Week, and the bakers are challenged to make signature biscuits that will say something both about them and a place in the British Isles, before tackling one of Paul's childhood favourites in the Technical. Finally, the bakers are tasked to make a 3D biscuit portrait in their first Showstopper.

It’s week two and the remaining 11 bakers face Cake Week – kicking off with a crowd-pleasing signature challenge. Next, the bakers face Prue Leith’s first technical, a complicated cake with a very unusual ingredient. Finally, an ambitious chocolate-collared showstopper turns up the heat in the tent. Who will rise to the various tasks – and who will melt under the pressure? Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding present, while series regular Paul Hollywood and Prue pass judgement before another baker leaves the contest.

It’s Bread Week, and the ten remaining bakers have a lot to prove with three tough challenges set by judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. There is a teatime fruity favourite Signature; a deceptively simple time-test of a Technical with an international flavour; and an ambitious Showstopper that’s the largest bread sculpture challenge ever set in the tent. Only one can claim Star Baker, while one of them will leave the tent for good.

It is Dessert Week and judges have set three sticky challengers to test the remaining nine bakers. They must create a cracking meringue Signature, a wobbly Technical and a complex chocolate showstopper that promises to reveal all.

It's Spice Week, and Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith task contestants with a teatime favourite Signature. The Technical means the bakers are tested with a tricky Arabian pastry. And, finally, they take on a fiddly Showstopper that promises to be anything but light work.

It is Pastry Week, and Paul and Prue are looking perfection - with savoury and sweet samosas, a classic French technical, and for the final challenge, a daunting majesticpie fit for a banquet.

It is a Bake Off first with Vegan Week. Prue and Paul have set three very different challenges to test the remaining bakers including savoury pastry signature without butter, a cracking technical and a risky but spectacular showstopper.

Volkommen to Danish Week with a bread signature requiring style and substance, a spherical technical and an elaborate pastry showstopper fit for a Danish birthday party and everyone is out to impress.

In the semi-final the four remaining bakers are all desperate to claim their place in the final showdown; the remaining bakers are just three patisserie challenges away from the biggest day of their baking lives.

Three bakers remain but only one can be crowned winner; Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith set three challenges that will test every aspect of the bakers' skills.