Second series of Bake Off: Crème de la Crème set for BBC Two

The show is a spin-off from the original amateur Bake Off TV phenomenon, and focuses on high-end, professional patisserie and chocolaterie, with teams of three taking part in increasingly-difficult challenges.

While the original show has migrated to Channel 4 after a controversial deal late last year, Crème de la Crème will remain on the BBC for now.

This year sees the format revamped slightly, including “knockout stages” requiring the five teams to battle it out for a chance to stay in for the next heat.

French chef Blin (chef patissier at the two Michelin starred Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons), and notoriously difficult-to-please Finden (well-known afternoon tea superstar and former executive pastry chef at the five AA-star hotel Langham London) will return as judges, but former third judge Claire Clark will not be taking part this time around. 

Two-Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, presenter of series one, has also left, with outspoken presenter Angus Deayton stepping into his shoes.

The winners of Series 1 were Mark Tilling and his team of Samantha Rain and Helen Vass.

The show has been widely praised as helping to raise the profile of professional pastry and chocolaterie in the UK.

“It's very likely that we will see more and more interest in the skills of the patisserie world,” Blin told BigHospitality ahead of the first series in 2016.

“It might encourage pastry chefs, who might otherwise be hidden away in the kitchen, to push themselves further and to raise the bar. To be on such a trusted channel as the BBC can only really help the industry.”