The Great British Bake Off

During Spice Week, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith set the bakers the challenge of creating a signature dish that captures a beloved teatime favourite. At the same time, a fiddly showstopper is on the agenda, promising to be anything but light work for the contestants.

Spice Week is the latest episode in the cooking competition series, centred on the use of bold flavours. It's a show that brings together two of the programme’s most recognisable judges, who will put the home cooks’ skills to the test. This installment promises a focus on aromatic ingredients that can transform ordinary dishes. The judges, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, set the contestants a dual challenge. First they'll have to create a signature dish that captures a classic teatime favourite, allowing each baker to put a personal twist on a well‑known treat. At the same time they are handed a showstopper that is anything but easy. The signature task revolves around that beloved tea‑time staple, demanding the bakers balance tradition with innovation. By focusing on a familiar flavour profile, the judges aim to see how contestants can elevate a simple favourite into something memorable, and they'll showcase their technical skill within the spice‑driven framework for the judges to assess. The showstopper is described as a fiddly piece of work, signalling a task that will demand precision and considerable effort. Contestants can expect a demanding build‑up, and they'll hear the judges warning that the piece will be far from light work. This element adds a further layer of pressure to the already intense competition.