The Great British Bake Off, a staple of British television since its debut in 2010, is about to serve up a slice of history. For its upcoming 17th series, set to air in September 2026, Channel 4 has announced a major shake-up: for the first time ever, viewers will take the reins and help decide the baking challenges that contestants face in the tent. Dubbed 'Audience Choice Week,' this new twist promises to put fans at the heart of the beloved show, giving them the unprecedented opportunity to shape what unfolds under the iconic white tent.
According to Channel 4, 'Audience Choice Week' will allow viewers to submit their ideas for the three main types of challenges: the Signature, the Technical, and the Showstopper. Whether you’re a fan who’s always dreamed of seeing a contestant attempt a gravity-defying croquembouche or a life-sized cake of one of the show’s presenters, now’s your chance to make it happen. The deadline for submissions is set for 1pm on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and ideas can be sent via the Channel 4 website. There’s no prize on offer—other than the ultimate bragging rights if your challenge is chosen and immortalized in the tent.
In a statement released by the show’s producers, the excitement was palpable: “We are inviting you to submit your ideas for challenges that may be selected to form part of our ‘Audience Choice’ Week. You are welcome to send submissions for one, two or all three challenges.” It’s a move that’s already generating a buzz among fans, many of whom have spent years critiquing and imagining new tasks from the comfort of their own sofas.
The decision to hand over creative control—if only for a week—has been warmly received by the show’s judges, Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith. As Paul Hollywood explained to RadioTimes, “For the first time ever, Prue and I are going to be sharing the reins for this Audience Choice week. We want to give our brilliant viewers the chance to help shape the show, and see their ideas come to life in the tent. I’m really looking forward to seeing what great ideas come through. People often come up to me in the street with challenges they wish they could see on the show, well now is the perfect opportunity!”
Dame Prue Leith echoed the sentiment, saying, “I’m really looking forward to Bake Off’s very first Audience Choice Week, giving the show’s fans the opportunity to have their say about what bakes they’d like to see in the tent next year.” The pair, known for their distinctive judging styles and light-hearted banter, will share control of the challenges during this unique week, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the competition.
The format change comes at a time when The Great British Bake Off remains one of the UK’s most beloved television programs. Presented by Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, the show continues to draw millions of viewers each season, with its mix of amateur baking, gentle competition, and the occasional kitchen disaster. The accessibility of the program—anyone can apply, regardless of their background—has helped fuel the UK’s ongoing baking boom, with retailers reporting surges in baking supply sales after each series.
The most recent season, which wrapped up in November 2025, saw 23-year-old medic Jasmine Mitchell take home the coveted glass cake stand. According to Channel 4, Jasmine was the first contestant in the show’s history to win five Star Baker awards and go on to clinch victory in the finale. Judge Paul Hollywood was effusive in his praise, stating, “She has done an incredible job all the way through the Bake Off this year. She is a worthy winner and she is the best one we have seen for quite a while actually.” Jasmine herself, reflecting on her experience, shared, “The trophy has been in the bottom of my pyjama drawer hidden at the back amongst the sports clothes. I will probably use it straight away and christen it by making a cake!”
Jasmine’s journey was marked by both triumph and adversity. She described her best moment as “dancing with Alison in the rain crying with relief after finishing one of the most intense weeks of my life: two massive Medicine exams and week 8 of the Bake Off.” Her worst moment? “Taking my meringue scallop shell out of the oven and hearing it go ‘Crack Crack Crack’ and seeing the crack lines develop after three and a half hours of baking.” It’s this blend of joy, stress, and unpredictability that keeps viewers coming back year after year.
Channel 4’s decision to introduce Audience Choice Week is, in some ways, a natural evolution for a show that thrives on community spirit. As Daily Mail pointed out, the Bake Off has always been a truly accessible show, with fans from all walks of life. Now, those fans will have a direct hand in shaping the competition, moving from armchair critics to creative collaborators. Of course, the producers have made it clear that this isn’t a competition—there are no prizes for selected ideas, other than the satisfaction of seeing your challenge come to life (and, perhaps, a little envy from friends and family).
Applications for the 17th series of Bake Off have closed, but anticipation is already building for the return of Alison Hammond, Noel Fielding, Paul Hollywood, and Dame Prue Leith to the tent. The show’s enduring popularity is evident not just in the main series, but in its spin-offs and specials. This past Christmas, Channel 4 aired The Great Peep Show Christmas Bake Off, featuring the cast of Peep Show battling for the Star Baker title, a testament to the brand’s ability to blend nostalgia, humor, and culinary skill in equal measure.
For fans in the UK, The Great British Bake Off and its spin-off Bake Off: An Extra Slice remain Channel 4 fixtures, while American audiences can catch the show—under the title The Great British Baking Show—on Netflix. As the series gears up for its 17th run, the addition of Audience Choice Week is poised to make this season one of the most interactive, unpredictable, and exciting yet.
With the submission window closing on January 18, 2026, fans have just a few weeks to dream up their ideal challenges. Whether it’s a daring new pastry, a technical challenge inspired by global baking traditions, or a showstopper that pushes contestants to their creative limits, one thing is certain: the tent has never felt closer to home.
As the Bake Off tent prepares to open its flaps once more, all eyes will be on the bakers—and the viewers—who are about to make baking history together.
