The Great British Bake Off tried something new with this week’s episode, introducing the first ever Audience Week.
Yes, for the first time ever, Bake Off fans were invited to submit their ideas for themed challenges over the summer, with producers picking three of their faves and threading them together in Tuesday night’s episode.
For their first task, dubbed Bake With A Relative, the contestants each invited a family member or loved one to complete their signature challenge, while the technical challenge was themed around a “mystery box”.
Great British Bake Off stars Alison Hammond, Noel Fielding, Paul Hollywood and Nigella LawsonAs for the final round, the show-stopper, the participants were challenged to create something baked that they could also wear.
Now, we know that fans of long-running TV formats often struggle when changes are introduced, with many blasting Bake Off’s inaugural Audience Week as “gimmicky”...
Really not a fan of this #GBBO family and friends task.
The Great British Bake Off is about finding the best baker, not the best family unit.
😫
I just know Paul is baffled with how the bake off has changed since the beginning, cause wdym the bakers have got assistance from family members? what is this phone a friend? #gbbo#thegreatbritishbakeoff#greatbritishbakeoffpic.twitter.com/pN8Uk47fhE
— jessica misses niall (@thelakesnh) October 6, 2026I am absolutely HATING the new ‘theme’ this week 🙈 audience week?! Also the entire point of the technical is they make the same thing and then you see who does it best. Not a random bunch of ingredients and make whatever they like 🙄 #gbbopic.twitter.com/cvWL7FHJMd
— Rachel H 🌙 (@Rachel__H__x) October 6, 2026I am a die hard Bake Off fan, but WHAT is this season 😭😭😭 why are there relatives in the tent, why can they see what they’re baking in the technical, why can no one seemingly bake that well, what have you done to my fave show 😭 #GBBO
— Amyyy (@amyhewitson_) October 6, 2026I ve watched bake off since it started and this was my least favourite episode , for me , it didn’t work , please keep to the same format , it works
— sally slater (@salbunny) October 6, 2026audience choice week??? we literally just want bread week #gbbo
— luke (@fansvfavourites) October 6, 2026Ugh this is so gimmicky, I hate it. Bring back the old Bake Off with classic bakes #GBBO
— Ree (@ree_tweeting) October 6, 2026This is meant to be an individual Bake Off competition, not Family Fortunes. Just because the public suggests something doesn't make it a good idea.#GBBO
— Moo & Drew (@MooAndDrew) October 6, 2026Hopefully GBBO doesn't do Audience week in future series. I was not a fan.
Another week of losing a baker I've grown fond of. #GBBO
How in the baking blazes can you judge a technical challenge when everyone's baking something different...? I'm not convinced Audience Choice is #GBBO's best idea. #BakeOffpic.twitter.com/vZBhGNJabL
— Alison Begas (@kamfinsa) October 6, 2026I HATE the format of tonight’s Bake Off, what were they thinking, it’s chaotic and gimmicky. #GBBO.
— The Wool Painter (@TheWoolPainter) October 6, 2026Not a fan of audience week at all. #gbbo
— Attila (@Attila_hun) October 6, 2026def not a fan of audience week tbh #GBBO
— ᴀᴍʏ ʜᴀʀɢɪᴛᴀʏ-ᴠɪsᴀɢᴇ ∞ (@itsamy_xo) October 6, 2026Bake off - No no no and no stop pratting about with the format. It has worked for years so don’t change it! #gbbo
— BxGill (@BxGill) October 6, 2026The Great British Bake Off is such a beloved format, it really doesn’t need gimmicks or format changes. Audience-selected signatures, relatives baking, everyone doing different technicals, wearable bakes… all nonsense. Is there some new producer trying to make a mark? #gbbo
— Kevin Roundtree (@KevRound1982) October 6, 2026Others, meanwhile, praised Bake Off for thinking outside of the box with the show’s latest challenge – with some even shedding a tear at the sight of the contestants baking along with their family members…
aww having their families come in to help them bake was so flipping wholesome, loved that 🥹 #GBBO
— dana🦥 (@DanaTurney1) October 6, 2026#gbbo audience week was interesting and loved seeing the families. Felt so sorry for Shannon it really didn't go right for her at all😓💔Thought the judges could've been more apologetic about the cake falling tbh😖 pic.twitter.com/MfSSG83dpk
— CatherineM (@Catherinebrosna) October 6, 2026Good shout by the audience to have relatives come on and bake cheesecake! Next time I am going to offer up the option of having the bakers pair up with contestants from Junior Bake Off, now that would be carnage #gbbopic.twitter.com/U79voaLkqT
— Matt Sheriff (@i71Sheriff) October 6, 2026I am loving seeing the contestants' families on GBBO. Actually shed a tear or several a few times. Soppy old bid that I am.
— Sorcha Ní Ruaidh (@SorchaNiRuaidh) October 6, 2026Bake off producers bringing in families for extra carnage #bakeoff#GBBOpic.twitter.com/GXEdadcYJy
— tasha louise 💗 (@eds_afterglow) October 6, 2026a lot of people don't like change so they won't like this challenge which is completely fair BUT that being said i think this challenge is a good idea in theory because if you opened a business you would be working with others #gbbo
— 🕊𝒹ℴ𝓋ℯ♱ (@Z33DEE) October 6, 2026Audience week did not disappoint on bake-off. First series handshake, a very impressive handbag cake and bye bye Shannon. #GBBO#C4
— Ashley Burton (@AshleyBurton_13) October 6, 2026I enjoyed the audience week of bakeoff oh
— The Nostalgia Merchant (@_LOHI_) October 7, 2026I Love Tonight’s Bake Off 😁🍰🧁 #GBBOpic.twitter.com/DIxyF63FYA
— Steph 👽 (@stephdennis16) October 6, 2026bake off brought some relatives in for a few hours and twitter are already calling for the show to be cancelled😭some people just love to complain omgggg #gbbopic.twitter.com/NN4gR2N5Pu
— luke (@fansvfavourites) October 6, 2026Long-serving judge Paul Hollywood previously said of Audience Week’s family member challenge: “It was a nice idea, that. I think it really worked because you could see the partnership.
“And they did relax a little bit more and confidence went up, and the confidence was still with them afterwards when their family member had gone or friend had gone.”
“You know, you’re never going to get an even standard with everyone, but you know, they really do pull it out of the bag when they need to,” his new co-star Nigella Lawson agreed.
Of course, this is a year of change for Bake Off all-round, with Nigella earning praise from viewers when she made her debut as the show’s latest addition last month, taking over from outgoing judge Dame Prue Leith.
The Great British Bake Off continues on Tuesday night at 8pm on Channel 4.
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