# The Great Australian Bake Off season 8

The eighth season of The Great Australian Bake Off premiered on 18 September 2024 on the LifeStyle channel, and saw 12 home bakers take part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be crowned The Great Australian Bake Off's best amateur baker. The season consisted of 10 episodes. Each episode saw bakers put through three challenges, with each episode having its own theme or discipline. The season was hosted by Cal Wilson (in her final hosting role) and Natalie Tran, and was judged by Darren Purchese and Rachel Khoo.

## Production

The eighth season, filmed earlier in 2023, aired in 2024 and was the second and final appearance of Cal Wilson as host as she died in October 2023. The eighth season premiered on 18 September 2024 and honoured Cal Wilson.

## The Bakers

The following is the list of the bakers that competed this season:
| Baker | Age | Occupation | Hometown | Competition Status |
| Arvin Garcia | 36 | Nurse | VIC | Season Winner |
| Dimi Jayawardene | 40 | Early Childhood Teacher | NSW | Season Runner-Up |
| Elliot Styche | 34 | Singing Teacher | NSW | Season Runner-Up |
| Laurina Bowlen | 36 | 50s Dress Designer | QLD | Eliminated (Episode 9) |
| Adrian Barila | 28 | Theatre Performer | VIC | Eliminated (Episode 8) |
| Molly Cameron | 16 | School Student | NSW | Eliminated (Episode 7) |
| Melisa Chilimanzi | 30 | Digital Manager | NSW | Eliminated (Episode 6) |
| Jason Verner | 34 | Bartender | WA | Eliminated (Episode 5) |
| Jaden Briggs | 30 | K'gari Tour Guide | QLD | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Ryan Fielder | 29 | Learning Co-ordinator | VIC | Eliminated (Episode 4) |
| Vicki Priest | 43 | Government Officer | NSW | Eliminated (Episode 2) |
| Jill Carnovale | 70 | Retired | NSW | Eliminated (Episode 1) |

## 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 | | | | | | | | | OUT | |
| Adrian | | | SB | | | | | OUT | | |
| Molly | SB | | | | | | OUT | | | |
| Melisa | | | | | SB | OUT | | | | |
| Jason | | SB | | | OUT | | | | | |
| Jaden | | | | OUT | | | | | | |
| Ryan | | | | OUT | | | | | | |
| Vicki | | OUT | | | | | | | | |
| Jill | OUT | | | | | | | | | |
Colour key:
| Got through to the next round | Awarded Star Baker | Season winner |
| One of the judges' favourite bakers that week | The baker was eliminated |
| One of the judges' least favourite bakers that week | Season runner-up |

## Episodes

| The baker was eliminated | Awarded Star Baker | Season winner |

### 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 |
* No-one was eliminated in this episode, due to Laurina experiencing an electrical fault in the showstopper. Two will be eliminated in the next 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 |
* The episode marks the final appearance of Wilson hosting the show until her death before the next five episodes. Tran continued hosting the following challenges in each episode, alongside Khoo and Purchese.

### 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 |

### Episode 7: Spice Week

Airdate: 30 October 2024
| Baker | Signature (Spiced Filo Pasties) | Technical (Crullers) | Showstopper (3D Biscuit Structures) |
| Adrian | Korean Pastries | 1st | Pepperkoker Melbourne Tram |
| Arvin | Filipino Pastries | 5th | Flinders Street Station |
| Dimi | Sri Lankan Pastries | 4th | Irish Castle |
| Elliot | Thai Pastries | 3rd | Piano and Dancefloor |
| Laurina | Hand Stretched Pastries | 6th | Fairy Tree House |
| Molly | Family Favourites | 2nd | Honey Bee Hotel |

### Episode 8: Italian Week

Airdate: 6 November 2024
| Baker | Signature (Pizza) | Technical (Pesche Con Crema) | Showstopper (Tiramisu) |
| Adrian | Springtime Pizza | 2nd | Tiramichoux Lamp |
| Arvin | Longanissa Pizza | 4th | Tiramisu Spheres |
| Dimi | Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza | 1st | Meringue-isu |
| Elliot | Pineapple on a Pizza | 5th | Brownie-misu |
| Laurina | Canadian Bacon Pizza | 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 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 Cake | 3rd | Rising Phoenix |
| Dimi | Earl Grey & Lavender Cake | 1st | "From Seed to Bloom" |
| Elliot | Haven for Wildlife | 2nd | Bake Off Family Tree |