The Great British Bake Off is back with its 16th season, and I am absolutely obsessed. This is the only reality TV show I watch, and I could write a college thesis about how perfect it is. I spent most of the COVID lockdown with a cuppa tea, a crochet project in my lap, and all the seasons on repeat. Yes, I am a grandmother.

Season 16 has already started off with a bang, showcasing some great characters and amazing bakes. But we’ve also seen a few of the worst disasters to ever appear in the show’s history in only the first three episodes. Let’s all shed a collective tear for those sweet, precious amateur bakers who, throughout the series, just didn’t have a good day in the tent and honor their valiant attempts.

1.

Cake Week Signature: Chocolate, Coffee, and Caramel Swiss Roll

2.

Cake Week Showstopper: ‘It’s All Downhill From Here’ Landscape Cake

3.

Biscuit Week Technical: Chocolate Hobnobs

4.

Pastry Week Showstopper: ‘All You Need is Love’ Paris-Brest

5.

Biscuit Week Signature: ‘Letter from America’ Marshmallow Biscuits

6.

Final Week Showstopper: ‘Crazy Tea Party’

7.

Cake Week Showstopper: Celebrity Busts

8.

Chocolate Week Signature: Chocolate Brownies

9.

Japanese Week Showstopper: ‘Avo Baby’

10.

Desserts Week Technical: Sussex Pond Puddings

11.

Final Week Technical: Stilton Souffles

12.

Cake Week Showstopper: ‘Champagne and Strawberries Eiffel Tower Collar Cake’

13.

Pastry Week Showstopper: Salmon Coulibiac

14.

Vegan Week Showstopper: ‘Chocolate, Lemon, and Coconut Cake’

15.

Biscuit Week Technical: Fortune Cookies

16.

Caramel Week Technical: Stroopwafels

17.

Pâtisserie (Semifinal) Showstopper: ‘Some Air Over the Rainbow’ Meringue Centrepiece

18.

Cake Week Showstopper: ‘Enchanted Forest Gateau’

19.

Victorian Week Technical: Tennis Cake

20.

Pâtisserie Week Showstopper: ‘Religieuse à l’ancienne’

21.

Desserts Week Showstopper: Baked Alaska

22.

Cake Week Technical: Rum Babas

23.

Biscuit Week Showstopper: Gingerbread Barn