Great British Bake Off viewers were left bringing the legend that is Mary Berry into their arguments as they issued complaints about the latest episode. The hit baking show was back on Channel 4 on Tuesday night (November 1) and it was crunch time for the remaining five contestants as, if they got through, just one week stood between them and the final.
During the latest trip inside the tent, the contestants were tasked with baking 12 signature vol-au-vents, a tricky spring roll technical and a nostalgic showstopper. First up, the amateur bakes were tasked with whipping up 12 rough puff pastry vol-au-vents with a sweet filling of their choice in two hours.
Sandro, who works as a nanny in London, was keen to impress Paul Hollywood with the judge’s favourite flavour of key lime cheesecake but disaster struck when he realised his oven had not been turned on for part of his bake. Meanwhile Swedish-born Maxy struggled with her vol-au-vents, which were filled with chantilly cream and gooseberry jam, as the judges pointed out the pastry base was raw.
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But Syabira, 32, continued her impressive streak with her citrus-flavoured pastry. Dame Prue Leith said they were “delicious” while Paul felt they were two minutes of baking away from “perfection”. Then it was time for the tricky technical round where the bakers were instructed to make eight spring rolls alongside a dipping sauce in one hour and 20 minutes.
Sandro came first in the challenge with Dame Prue saying: “Pastry is excellent, delicious and lovely dipping sauce”. Janusz from Brighton, came a close second but had one missing spring roll – which left him perplexed as he said he made eight but only seven ended up on the plate.
Maxy, unfortunately, came last as Dame Prue said her versions were “too small, too much pastry, not enough filling”. For the final showstopper challenge, the hopefuls were tasked with baking an elaborate 3D pie scene inspired by their favourite childhood story or nursery rhyme in four hours.
Two bakers chose the children’s story The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle with Janusz creating a unique version by making it in the style of a sausage dog for his own furry friend. Meanwhile, electronics engineer Abdul, 29, opted for the adventure novel Treasure Island in a range of sweet apple and blackberry pies as well as savoury curry pies.
But it was Maxy who became the eighth contestant to leave the Great British Bake Off tent after a tense quarter-final which saw soggy bottoms and 3D spectacles in pastry week. The architectural assistant, 29, narrowly missed a place in the semi-final after failing to impress the judges.
However, Bake Off fans again had a complaint to make about the choice of challenges this week, mainly the inclusion of spring rolls. @GeorgiaEH17 tweeted: "Oh yeah spring rolls the world famous baked good what the hell is this technical #gbbo." @Paul03904604 posted: "Why they making spring rolls. This is not baking. This is not baking. This is not what the show@is about. They have tweeted it. Me not like. Cheffing is not baking !#GBBO."
@13reasonswill said: "I thought this was the Great British BAKE OFF… why are they COOKING spring rolls? #GBBO." @ChatsunamiPod wrote: "SPRING ROLLS?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! SINCE WHEN IS A SPRING ROLL BAKING?? AYE NAE PROBLEM ILL JUST WHIP UP A VICTORIA SPRING ROLL FOR THE BAKE OFF! #GBBO." @AllyBrisket added: "What is going on with #GBBO? You wanna mix it, up I get it. I still think savoury is controversial but I’ll allow it cause it’s baking. Donuts? Ok, they’re sweet. Ice cream? Fair, it’s a dessert. Tacos? Spring rolls? You’re gonna lose your fan base if you keep this up. BAKE!"
Others couldn't help but mention the show's former judge. @hellfiregay tweeted: "So this series we have had pizza, tacos, and spring rolls - Mary Berry would NEVER have allowed that happen." And @kevwgs wrote: "Mary Berry when she sees the new theme weeks #GBBO," alongside a GIF from Mrs Doubtfire when the late Robin Williams' character rushes to the rescue in a restaurent, saying: "Help is on the way, dear!"
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