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The first quartet of junior bakers enter the tent for two exciting baking challenges - and aiming for the first of 10 quarter-final places. Annabel, Harry, Tyrese and Abi have their baking knowledge and piping skills put to the test when they are asked to follow Allegra's surprise recipe for a US classic - red velvet whoopee pies. These stunning cookie sandwiches which ooze fluffy meringue filling prove themselves to be a tricky first technical challenge for the bakers. This is followed up with gravity-defying show-stoppers that require the bakers to demonstrate engineering, as well as baking skills. Expect spectacular bakes which take off into the sky and others which topple and fall.
The second batch of bakers to whip up a storm are Evie, Billy, Shriyana and Nigel. Their baking knowledge and skills are put to the test when they are asked to follow Nadiya's surprise recipe for shortbread peanut butter squares. The shortbread squares need to be perfectly uniform in size with even layers, but which young baker will demonstrate the most precision to make it into the top two? Then they are asked to bake from the heart with a showstopper birthday cake for somebody they love. This bake brings out the best in the bakers as they have to think not just about the flavours and decoration their loved one would like, but also what could win them a place in the quarter-finals.
The four bakers entering the third heat of Junior Bake Off have the mammoth task of flipping 12 uniform pancakes to produce a glossy chocolate-covered pancake cake. Ben, Francesca, Hannah and Oliver follow up this tricky technical challenge with a historic show-stopper when Allegra and Nadiya ask them to recreate a moment in history using biscuits. They not only have to bake robust and perfectly flavoured biscuits but they also need to construct their 'moment', if they are going to make history and make it into the quarter-finals.
Junior Bake Off goes global as bakers Millie, Mack, Zac and Rosie take on two internationally themed challenges. Their surprise technical is for fruity French apricot clafoutis, and the judges are looking for a delicious puffed-up pudding with crispy edges and a berry ice cream on the side. Next the bakers take inspiration from their travels for showstopper international cakes which transport the judges from Denmark, to Iran and via the Caribbean to Australia. With such exotic flavours tickling their taste buds how can Allegra and Nadiya possibly choose which young baker to put through to the quarter-finals?
Judges Nadiya and Allegra set bakers Nikki, Oli, Elodie and Hamish a 100 per cent British technical challenge - but with a twist. It's Allegra's surprise recipe for 'squashed fly' scones, accompanied by homemade jam and cream. The bakers are relieved to discover that the 'squashed flies' are just currants and they will be more relieved if they can master the show-stopper ombre cake to win a place in the quarter-finals.
Nadiya and Allegra have already chosen their first five quarter-finalists and only five places remain. The four bakers out to impress in the tent are Jenna, Ali, Dylan and Robin, who are tasked with following the recipe for a chocolate ginger volcano biscuit. The trick is to use bicarbonate of soda to create an explosive honeycomb centre. Next they tackle a food illusion showstopper, creating sweet bakes made to look like a savoury meal. Who will perform the magic to conjure a place in the quarter-finals?
Judges Nadiya and Allegra are looking for another quarter-finalist, and bakers Mia, Jamie, JJ and Maisie are tasked with making an identical batch of prune and carrot cupcakes, topped with beautifully uniform piped frosting. Whilst one baker forgets an essential ingredient, another sends cream flying, making for an eventful technical challenge, and the drama continues in the show-stopper, when the bakers produce 12 biscuit pops and one baker omits an essential part of the bake. But will it cost them a place in next week's quarter-finals?
Nadiya and Allegra give four more junior bakers, Lottie, Harry, Ffion and Mehdi, the chance to compete for just one place in the quarter-finals. The technical challenge is one of Allegra's recipes for pizzetta bianchi. Which baker will achieve pizza perfection with these thin, mini white pizzas? Next the bakers have to invent a dessert in show-stopping cake form. Expect blackberry crumbles, lemon meringue pies and even jelly and ice cream to be transformed into cake.
Judges Nadiya and Allegra set bakers a technical recipe for a British classic battenberg, with a bit of a twist. This rhubarb and custard version tests the bakers' precision skills as they must make four identical sponges and construct them into the perfect checkerboard.
Harvey, Joseph, Macy and Sophie produce a show-stopping selfie on a giant cookie. How will they portray themselves in icing and how evenly baked will their whopping 30cm cookie turn out? It's for one of the last two places in the quarter-finals so Nadiya and Allegra are looking for perfection.
It's the last of the Junior Bake Off heats and just one place remains in the quarter-finals. The four remaining bakers to enter the tent for the most coveted spot are Rachel, Mimi, Yasmin and Tom. Judges Nadiya and Allegra have set a tricky technical that will test their baking know-how with a surprise recipe for chiffon cakes. For the show-stopper challenge the bakers must showcase their artistic side, creating detailed artwork on a painted cake. But who will portray the personality and creativity and impress the judges enough to put them through?
It's the start of finals, where 40 bakers have been reduced to just ten and now the first five quarter-finalists enter the Bake Off tent, all targeting a place in the semi-finals. Judges Allegra McEvedy and Nadiya Hussain have shifted it up a gear in challenge difficulty with one of Nadiya's recipes for mini orange and chocolate hazelnut dacquoise and then, for the first time this year, the bakers face pastry and have to come up with show-stopping savoury galettes.
It's the second quarter-final and five more bakers enter the Bake Off tent to face judges Nadiya Hussain and Allegra McEvedy. The technical bake sees the bakers tied up in doughy knots as they try to follow Allegra's recipe for baked pretzels and dip. In the show-stopper challenge the bakers have to produce 12 eclairs. They'll need to pull out all the stops to present perfectly piped and deliciously flavoured eclairs if they're to go through, but only three can win a place in the semi-final.
It's time for the semi-final and things hot up in the Bake Off tent as the remaining five bakers try to blow the baking socks off judges Nadiya Hussain and Allegra McEvedy. First, the semi-finalists face a gruelling technical knowledge test - including creating a perfectly plaited loaf, with a blindfolded taste challenge. Then they must conquer enriched dough, to produce 12 show-stopping regional buns worthy of a place in the Junior Bake Off final. Sam and Mark oversee proceedings and try to keep everyone semi-calm!
The three finalists face two days of baking challenges before one of them is crowned Junior Bake Off Champion 2016. Today, for their first ever signature challenge they must produce two different canapes made with rough puff pastry, and whilst the bakes themselves aren't a surprise, the guests they are making them for are. Sam and Mark welcome vloggers Marcus Butler and Oli White to the tent to assist the judges in tasting the bakes, much to the delight of the finalists, who are massive Marcus and Oli fans. After all that excitement, the judges really step up the pressure by giving the bakers their final and toughest technical challenge yet - a surprise recipe for chocolate passion fruit meringue pies.
With the signature and technical challenges under their belts, the finalists are back in the tent for the final time, for the final showstopper of the series. Everything rests on what the finalists bake. They have to create an impressive, layered cake fit to serve at a royal garden party and their friends and family are gathering outside to support them in their final challenge. From the 40 bakers who entered the tent there are now only three, and one of them will be crowned Junior Bake Off Champion 2016.
