Overview

• The Channel 4 staple opened its 16th series on September 2 at 8pm with 12 amateur bakers and the return of Alison Hammond, Noel Fielding, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
• Cake Week kept the Signature/Technical/Showstopper format but introduced a no‑recipe Technical in which bakers had five minutes to examine a Battenberg before recreating it.
• Viewers on social media called the new Technical “harsh,” arguing it relied on guesswork, and some also questioned the absence of older contestants.
• The episode’s challenges featured a patterned Swiss roll, fondant fancies for the Technical, and a landscape‑themed showstopper that produced both mishaps and an eye‑catching recovery.
• The first Star Baker was named and the season’s initial elimination confirmed, setting the competitive tone as weekly episodes continue on Tuesdays at 8pm.