The Great Australian Bake Off season 8
| Company type | Television series season |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | September 18, 2024 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Cal Wilson (host), Natalie Tran (host), Darren Purchese (judge), Rachel Khoo (judge) |
| Products | Reality baking competition |
The eighth installment of The Great Australian Bake Off began broadcasting on 18 September 2024 via the LifeStyle network. This season showcased a group of 12 amateur bakers competing across a span of 10 episodes. Each episode presented three distinct baking tasks focused on a particular theme. Hosting duties were undertaken by Cal Wilson—in her final hosting role—and Natalie Tran, while judging was conducted by Darren Purchese and Rachel Khoo.
Production
Filming took place in early 2023, with the season airing in 2024. This series marked the last time Cal Wilson served as host before her passing in October 2023. The opening episode included a tribute recognizing her significant impact on the show.
The Bakers
The lineup of contestants for this edition consisted of:
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvin Garcia | 36 | Nurse | VIC | Template:Sort |
| Dimi Jayawardene | 40 | Early Childhood Teacher | NSW | Template:Sort |
| Elliot Styche | 34 | Singing Teacher | NSW | Template:Sort |
| Laurina Bowlen | 36 | 50s Dress Designer | QLD | Template:Sort |
| Adrian Barila | 28 | Theatre Performer | VIC | Template:Sort |
| Molly Cameron | 16 | School Student | NSW | Template:Sort |
| Melisa Chilimanzi | 30 | Digital Manager | NSW | Template:Sort |
| Jason Verner | 34 | Bartender | WA | Template:Sort |
| Jaden Briggs | 30 | K'gari Tour Guide | QLD | Template:Sort |
| Ryan Fielder | 29 | Learning Co-ordinator | VIC | |
| Vicki Priest | 43 | Government Officer | NSW | Template:Sort |
| Jill Carnovale | 70 | Retired | NSW | Template:Sort |
Results summary
| Elimination Chart | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Arvin | SB | SB | WINNER | |||||||
| Dimi | SB | Runner-Up | ||||||||
| Elliot | SB | SB | Runner-Up | |||||||
| Laurina | colspan="2" style="background:LightBlue;" | style= " background : Plum ; " | colspan = "3"style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : CornflowerBlue ; " | style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : OrangeRed ; "|OUT | colspan = "6"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | |||
| Adrian | style= " background : CornflowerBlue ; " | style= " background : Plum ; " | style= " background : LemonChiffon ; "|SB | colspan = "2"style= " background : LightBlue ; " | colspan = "2"style= " background : Plum ; " | style= " background : OrangeRed ; "|OUT | colspan = "6"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | |||
| Molly | SB | colspan = "5"style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : OrangeRed ; "|OUT | colspan = "6"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | ||||||
| Melisa | style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : CornflowerBlue ; " | style= " background : Plum ; " | style= " background : CornflowerBlue ; " | style= " background : LemonChiffon ; "|SB | OUT | colspan = "6"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | |||
| Jason | colspan = "1"style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : LemonChiffon ; "|SB | colspan = "2"style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : OrangeRed ; "|OUT | colspan = "6"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | |||||
| Jaden | colspan = "3"style= " background : LightBlue ; " | rowspan = "2"style= " background : OrangeRed ; "|OUT | rowspan = "2"colspan = "7"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | |||||||
| Ryan | colspan = "2"style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : Plum ; " | ||||||||
| Vicki | style= " background : LightBlue ; " | style= " background : OrangeRed ; "|OUT | colspan = "8"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | |||||||
| Jill | OUT | colspan = "9"style= " background : DarkGrey ; " | ||||||||
Colour key:
| Advanced to next round | Earned Star Baker title | Winner of the season |
| Judges’ favourite contestant that week | Eliminated contestant | |
| Judges’ least favourite contestant that week | Season runner-up |
Episodes
| Baker eliminated | Star Baker awarded | Winner of the season |
Episode 1: Cake Week
Airdate: 18 September 2024
| Baker | Signature (Pull-Apart Cakes) |
Technical (Passionfruit Chiffon Cake) |
Showstopper (Epic Birthday Cake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Paint Palette | 1st | Disco Shag Cake |
| Arvin | Kamayan Feast | 2nd | Journey of Discovery |
| Dimi | Field of Flowers | 7th | Macaron Tower |
| Elliot | Treble Clef | 6th | Vintage Pistachio Cake |
| Jaden | Long-Necked Turtle | 12th | Desert Dreaming |
| Jason | Moonlit Galaxy | 3rd | Two Countries |
| Jill | Hot Pink Flamingo | 5th | Pina Colada Cake |
| Laurina | Retro Caravan | 11th | Fancactus Cake |
| Melisa | Hair | 8th | Indlovu Cake |
| Molly | Blooming Heart | 4th | Mocrackle Cake |
| Ryan | Chai Shark | 10th | Donut Explosion |
| Vicki | Mermaid Tail | 9th | Razzle Dazzle Cake |
Episode 2: Bread Week
Airdate: 25 September 2024
| Baker | Signature (Bread sticks) |
Technical (Zopf) |
Showstopper (Scored & Painted Loaves) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Grissini Braids | 2nd | Written in the Stars |
| Arvin | Garlic & Onion Breadsticks | 10th | Parol Loaves |
| Dimi | Corianda & Sea Salt Grissini | 9th | Mexican Fiesta |
| Elliot | In the Middle East | 6th | Picnic at the Farm |
| Jaden | Saltbush & Native Thyme Breadsticks | 3rd | Bush Style Damper |
| Jason | Carry Me Away Grissini | 11th | Jalapeno, Cheese and Corn Loaves |
| Laurina | Picnic Munchies | 7th | Garden Loaves |
| Melisa | Baobab Breadsticks | 1st | Let's Get In Formation Loaves |
| Molly | Prosciutto Cheese Twists | 4th | Mandalas |
| Ryan | Mexican Fiesta Grissini | 8th | Day of the Dead Bread |
| Vicki | Garlic Breadsticks | 5th | For the Bees Loaves |
Episode 3: Back to Basics Week
Airdate: 2 October 2024
| Baker | Signature (Scones) |
Technical (Chocolate Tart) |
Showstopper (Vertical Pie) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Pineapple & Rosemary Hawaiian Scones | 1st | Apple Pie Camp Fire |
| Arvin | Coconut Bibingka Scones | 2nd | Poached Pear Bayanihan |
| Dimi | Pumpkin & Ginger Scones | 7th | Three Pork Pies |
| Elliot | Maple Pecan Scones | 3rd | Pork Central Station |
| Jaden | Davidson Plum Scones | 9th | Peach & Quandong Bark Hut |
| Jason | Candied Ginger Scones | 8th | Chicken Curry Lotus Pond |
| Laurina | Lavender & Lemon Scones | 6th | Mixed Berry & Mango Carousel |
| Melisa | Blabaer Scones | 10th | Matcha Chocolate Pecan Ruin |
| Molly | Sticky Date Scones | 5th | Blood Orange Pot of Gold |
| Ryan | Peach Melba Scones | 4th | Mince Pie Christmas Tree |
- Due to a power outage impacting Laurina's showstopper, no contestant was sent home this round; consequently, two bakers will face elimination in the following episode.
Episode 4: Biscuit Week
Airdate: 9 October 2024
| Baker | Signature (Linzer Cookies) |
Technical (Mocha Mochi Cookies) |
Showstopper (Moving Biscuit Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Cosmo | 3rd | Go Go Skates |
| Arvin | Pan de San Nicolas | 2nd | Kalesa |
| Dimi | Traditional Linzers | 6th | African Safari Truck |
| Elliot | A Biscuit a Day | 5th | If the Boat's Rockin' Don't Come Knockin' |
| Jaden | Walkabout | 10th | Bark Canoe |
| Jason | Pistachio Cardamom | 9th | UFO |
| Laurina | Christmas in a Cookie | 8th | London Sightseeing Bus |
| Melisa | Strawberry Daiquiri | 1st | Viking Ship |
| Molly | Red & Green Shall Be Seen | 4th | Pink Bisc-Ute |
| Ryan | Cherry Apple | 7th | Taco 'Bout A Food Truck |
Episode 5: Celebration Week
Airdate: 16 October 2024
| Baker | Signature (Sarawak) |
Technical (Christmas Ornaments) |
Showstopper (Spooky Blacklight Cake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Coconut and Rum Sarawak | 1st | Scary Go Round |
| Arvin | Orange Sarawak | 6th | Tiyanak |
| Dimi | Citrus Sarawak | 5th | Spooky Spider Cake |
| Elliot | Chocolate Orange Sarawak | 7th | Pumpkin Patch Cake |
| Jason | Raspberry and Lime Sarawak | 8th | Voodoo Altar |
| Laurina | Temple Sarawak | 3rd | Death by Chocolate |
| Melisa | Kente Sarawak | 4th | African Face Mask |
| Molly | Pineapple Sarawak | 2nd | Tombstone Terror |
- This episode is notable as Wilson's last appearance as host prior to her passing; Tran took over hosting duties alongside Khoo and Purchese for the following episodes.
Episode 6: Cheese Week
Airdate: 23 October 2024
| Baker | Signature (Cheesy Tear & Share) |
Technical (Three Cheese Pie) |
Showstopper (Floating Cheesecake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Cheesy Truffle Loaf | 2nd | Cheesecake Orbit |
| Arvin | Cheesy Ensaymada Rolls | 5th | Matcha Made in Heaven |
| Dimi | Cheese, Spinach, and Bacon Wreath | 3rd | Fruity Fix |
| Elliot | Party Pesto Knots | 1st | Trip to France |
| Laurina | Spicy Cheesy Twists | 6th | All Berry Bliss |
| Melisa | Cheesy Herb Scrolls | 7th | Cosmopolitan Cheesecakes |
| Molly | Blackberry Ricotta Scrolls | 4th | Tea vs Coffee |
Airdate: 30 October 2024
| Baker | Signature (Spiced Filo Pasties) |
Technical (Crullers) |
Showstopper (3D Biscuit Structures) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Korean-inspired Pastries | 1st | Pepperkoker Melbourne Tram |
| Arvin | Pastries from the Philippines | 5th | Flinders Street Station |
| Dimi | Sri Lankan-style Pastries | 4th | Irish Castle |
| Elliot | Thai-themed Pastries | 3rd | Piano and Dancefloor |
| Laurina | Pastries with Hand-Stretched Dough | 6th | Fairy Tree House |
| Molly | Favorite Family Recipes | 2nd | Honey Bee Hotel |
Episode 8: Italian Week
Airdate: 6 November 2024
| Baker | Signature (Pizza) |
Technical (Pesche Con Crema) |
Showstopper (Tiramisu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | Spring-inspired Pizza | 2nd | Tiramichoux Lamp |
| Arvin | Longanissa-flavored Pizza | 4th | Tiramisu Spheres |
| Dimi | Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza Creation | 1st | Meringue-isu |
| Elliot | Pineapple Pizza Variation | 5th | Brownie-misu |
| Laurina | Canadian Bacon Pizza Style | 3rd | Berrimisu Pastry Tower |
Episode 9: Patisserie Week
Airdate: 13 November 2024
| Baker | Signature (Kouign-amann) |
Technical (Strawberry Tart) |
Showstopper (Petit Fours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arvin | Lemon Myrtle Kouign-amann | 1st | Petit Collection |
| Dimi | Spiced Orange Kouign-amann | 4th | Black Sesame Petit Fours |
| Elliot | Breakfast-themed Kouign-amann | 3rd | "Petite" Fours |
| Laurina | Lemon and Cardamom Kouign-amann | 2nd | Colorful Petit Fours |
Episode 10: Finale
| Baker | Signature (Botanical Cake) |
Technical (Paris-Brest) |
Showstopper (Free Choice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arvin | Rainforest-inspired Cake | 3rd | Rising Phoenix |
| Dimi | Earl Grey and Lavender Cake | 1st | "From Seed to Bloom" |
| Elliot | Wildlife Sanctuary Cake | 2nd | Bake Off Family Tree |