Ep 1. Dorset and Bath

Britain's Best Bakery is a cooking competition show that brings together some of the best bakeries in the United Kingdom to compete for the title of the country's best. Season 1 of the series begins with episode 1 named "Dorset and Bath." In this episode, a batch of the finest bakeries from the south of England compete for a place in the national final.

The team behind Britain's Best Bakery, Mich Turner and Peter Sidwell, kick off their tour across Great Britain in episode 1 by visiting two counties renowned for their beautiful countryside, rolling hills, and quaint towns- Dorset and Bath.

As the showcase of this first episode, they visit the bakeries of these counties to find the best of the best. Mich and Peter are on the lookout for those with the passion and flair to create exquisite baked goods that capture their taste buds and excite their palates.

They commence their search for Britain's Best Bakery by going to Dorset where they visit some amazing bakers. The first stop is the Bread Addiction; a bakery renowned for its artisan bread, which uses only the best natural ingredients for its bread. The bakery has become famous for its sourdough loaves, which take up to three days to make. At Bread Addiction, Mich and Peter are thrilled to see a product that is in a different league from the rest.

Later, they visit the award-winning Leakers Bakery in Bridport, a traditional baker that has been serving the people of Dorset since 1920. Here, Mich and Peter are shown the secrets behind Leakers' high-quality bread. At Leakers, Mich and Peter picked two products that will certainly surprise and arouse the curiosity of everyone.

Next on the list is Bournemouth's Baker & Graze, a bakery aimed at the trendy and health-conscious clientele. Patty of Baker & Graze showcased her entries with 100% natural ingredients and no refined sugar. Mich and Peter got to try some of the bakery's vegan options, including a plant-based beetroot cupcake.

After their stop in Dorset, Mich and Peter headed to Bath, where they meet Artisan Bakers and the thought behind their innovative creations. Their first visit was to Bertinet's Bakery run by Richard Bertinet, who was awarded an MBE for services to the food industry. Here, Mich and Peter observed his crafting of artisan bread, skill and choreography that he shows in his work.

The show culminates with the regional finalists of each county visiting the New Forest Show held on the edge of the New Forest National Park, in Hampshire, for the Dorset and Bath finals. Mich and Peter invite some of the winners, including Bread Addiction, Leakers Bakery, Bertinet Bakery, and others, to the show. The companies had 24 hours to set up their stalls and bake for the judges' table.

In the end, only one county champion from both Dorset and Bath would move ahead to the national finals, so the competitors pull out all the stops in their attempt for the regional win. With the stakes being so high, bakeries pull out their best creations, and in the process, Mich and Peter discover some of the most remarkable bakes that have to be tasted to be believed.

As the first episode of Britain's Best Bakery Season 1, "Dorset and Bath" will certainly elevate your love for baked goods and expand your knowledge base by showcasing some of the best bakers in those areas. Furthermore, if you're a food critic or an enthusiastic baker, this show is an enjoyable, fun way to learn more about the art of baking and all of the possibilities that come with the trade.