'The Great British Baking Show' Collection 9, Episode 3 Recap "Bread Week"

It is once again Bread Week in The Great British Baking Show tent, the third of the show's opening foundational bakes triumvirate along with Cakes and Biscuits. Bread has been part of the show's opening weeks since the series' initial first season. While Biscuits have occasionally risen higher, Bread has stayed relatively stable, in the same place on the schedule as the third-week challenge, much like Cakes have been the show's opening challenge for nearly the entire run.

Bread is also, famously, Paul Hollywood's thing, Lord of the Loaf songs aside. Winning Bread Week isn't essential to winning the show, but no contestant named Star Baker on Bread Week has ever placed lower than the Top Six. Doing poorly on Bread Week (and not being eliminated) means Paul will champion your ouster at the slightest misstep. This has gotten worse since Mary Berry's exit, so doing well on Bread Week is a must. Get ready for oven kneelers.

The Bread challenge is also a baking week where math and engineering are not enough to create magic the cookie and cake weeks can be. Bread sculptures are about baking and crumb structure and careful proofing. That means if there's a week to break Jürgen's streak, this is it.

Signature Challenge