As this year’s 12 amateur bakers took to the tent, they were faced with their very first technical challenge for Cake Week: to produce a plate of jaffa cakes. Harmless enough, you might think, but it was a bit of a bloodbath.
Advertisement
“I listen to my cakes”, says Val during the first baking challenge, cheerfully raising a sponge to her ear.
The bake that sealed Banfield’s fate was his Showstopper cake, which was a strawberry surprise mirror cake covered in a dark chocolate mirror glaze, complete with ganache and layers of fresh strawberries and strawberry jam.
‘People have learnt when Mary and I prefer…’
As they wait for the show to air, the bakers have been spending time together as well as swapping tips and compliments on social media.
Benjamina Ebuehi, a 23-year-old teaching assistant, posted a photograph where she was joined by her co-stars including financial services employee Selasi Gbormittah and student support worker Rav Bansal.
News of the emoji went down well with fans, who quickly tweeted their delight.
Mary thinks the presenting duo Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc – who are known for their hilarious catchphrases – are key to the show’s success.
Nadiya was born in Britain, but her parents are from Bangladesh.
Also back are CJ’s Birds Of Prey with an awe-inspiring display of falconry, now established as one of the best in the UK.
Asked if the show would survive without the silver fox, she said: “I’m sure it would”.
Fearne Cotton tweeted her excited at contestant Tom’s idea to make a drizzle cake with gin, joking: “gin drizzle…now we are talking!” I never fry a doughnut! “I do sometimes wonder whether I’ll ever decide where home really is”.
She’s not exactly an intrepid traveller, but Nadiya makes for an engaging and open-hearted presenter.
Advertisement
If you’re wondering how to watch Great British Bake Off from outside the United Kingdom then you’ll need to use a VPN (virtual private network) like NordVPN so it appears you’re device is local. I did, and I did.
