Which former contestants competed in The Great British Baking Show: Holiday season 7 episode 2? Details explored

The Great British Baking Show: Holiday Season 7 episode 2 premiered on December 9 on Netflix.

The New Year-themed episode welcomed back four talented bakers from previous seasons, giving them a chance to showcase their growth, refine their skills, and redeem themselves by conquering the challenges that once led to their elimination.

The four returning bakers include Mark from series 11, Jürgen and Maggie from series 12, and Maxy from series 13. They were asked to prepare a sweetly stacked religieuse for the signature challenge, a fiendish galette des rois for technical, and a creatively decorated smash cake for the showstopper challenge.

Maxy amazed the judges with her Lemon joconde sponge in the showstopper challenge and was announced as the winner of the New Year special episode.

"This is definitely an amazing ending to my Bake Off story. I came in here and I didn't think I was gonna win. And I was so nervous about all of my bakes," she said after her win.

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Four bakers returned in The Great British Baking Show: Holiday season 7 episode 2

Mark (Series 11)

The Great British Bake Off series 11's Mark (Image via The Great British Bake Off )

Mark was a part of series 11. He had a wonderful experience during the 2020 season and added several Star Bakers to his name. However, luck ran out during Japanese Week when Judge Paul Hollywood deemed his presentation as "inedible."

The returning contestant recalled the incident and said in his confessional during The Great British Baking Show: Holiday season 7 episode 2:

"Terrifying to be back here. I'm not sure why I said yes to this. Paul Hollywood did use the word inedible, so I'm here to make something that's not inedible,"

His bakes in The Great British Baking Show: Holiday season 7 episode 2 are as follows.

• Signature Challenge: Chocolate choux buns filled with an orange liqueur creme patisserie.
• Technical Challenge: Second place
• Showstopper Challenge: Rum and ginger cake flavored with lime buttercream and white chocolate snowmen on the top.

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Jürgen (Series 12)

Mark was joined by series 12's three-time Star Baker Jürgen. During his introduction in the episode, host Noel described the contestant as the "regular technical dominator" and "sometime Hollywood handshaker."

Jürgen wowed viewers with several "astonishing bakes" throughout his run on the show, earning a spot in the semifinals. However, his finale biscuit bake failed to impress Paul, ultimately costing him the chance to win the season.

Jürgen expressed joy at being back in the iconic tent, describing it as a "warm feeling."

"Seeing the tent again, it creates quite a warm feeling. So being back here is great,' The Great British Baking Show: Holiday returnee said in his confessional.

His bake in the episode 2 are as follows.

• Signature Challenge: "Lucky Chimney Sweeps" which had tea & rum, and coffee & kirsch fillings, decorated with broomsticks, ladders, and hats.
• Technical Challenge: Fourth place
• Showstopper Challenge: Mount Fuji smash cake with three types of chocolate

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Maggie (Series 12)

Maggie was another returning baker from the series 12. The former midwife managed to reach Dessert Week during the 2021 season, however, a silly mistake took her out of the show.

While her signature presentation received praise from the judges during the dessert week, she forgot to put flour in her technical bake, and it derailed her momentum.

Reacting to the incident, Maggie said during The Great British Baking Show: Holiday season 7 episode 2 that she won't do anything "stupid this time."

Her bakes in the episode 2 are as follows.

• Signature Challenge: Choux buns filled with cranberry & port and chestnut & brandy cream, and was decorated with sparkles.
• Technical Challenge: Third place
• Showstopper Challenge: "Winter Fun Smash Cake" infused with orange, chocolate, and topped with a dark chocolate dome.

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Maxy (Series 13)

Series 13 contestant Maxy earned two handshakes and two Star Bakers during her season. She made it to the quarter-finals, but Pastry Week proved her undoing.

"Happy New Year! It feels amazing to be back, but I am also feeling nervous. As I went out on Pastry Week, I've gotta prove myself," Maxy said in her confessional.

Her bakes in The Great British Baking Show: Holiday season 7 episode 2 are as follows.

• Signature Challenge: "Away in a Manger," which had a coffee creme filling, a cinnamon caramel latte center, and a Marzipan halo.
• Technical Challenge: First place
• Showstopper Challenge: Lemon joconde sponge layered with mango and passionfruit coulis.

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The first two episodes of The Great British Baking Show: Holiday season 7 are available on Netflix (US).