THE CAKE SHOW ON CHANNEL 4
Delights and disasters of the finalists
ON your marks, get set, bake! Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig will say these words for the last time this series as The Great British Bake Off reaches its first final on Channel 4.
TEAM Bake Off’s Sandi, Paul, Prue and Noel WHEN he was announced by Channel 4 as a host, social media went into meltdown with many saying it was bad enough the show was moving from the BBC – and now it was ruined.
But starting off quietly and slowly growing into the role and messing around more, there is no doubt the bakers love Noel, pictured right with Kate, and now millions of the viewers do, too. The format and fun has survived intact. VIEWERS were shocked during last week’s semi-final when Paul appeared to ditch the judging rule he’s been using for eight years.
He was heard telling co-judge Prue and hosts Noel and Sandi he felt the contest was so tight, they needed to consider the bakes produced in previous weeks to decide who needed to go.
That is something he has said he would never do. On GETTING the seal of approval early on in the competition from Paul Hollywood is a confidence booster and a sign the contestant should be in for the long haul. Steven was shown on screen getting the first Hollywood handshake — but it emerged Sophie had one before him that didn’t make the cut. She said: “I got the first Hollywood handshake on the THE show is known for innuendo, but the moment that was nearest the knuckle came from a chunk of bread.
Julia Chernogorova had the nation in fits of laughter with a creation which included a countryside scene – complete with a an oddly phallic-shaped snail.
“That just looks inappropriate,” said Julia, before she presented her bread sculpture to judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. “I like the snail”, Paul WITH nine contestants left, they were asked to make stroopwafel, a syrupy waffle from Holland containing oozy toffee caramel.
But the technical challenge was a complete disaster.
One by one, every baker presented a grainy mess sandwiched between two mediocre waffle-halves.
“This is pretty tricky judging this lot,” said Paul Hollywood. the show Paul claimed it was a little-used rule, but ardent fans claimed they had never seen it before.
It led to the departure of Stacey Hart, pictured. show. It was edited so it looked like Steven got the first one, but it was actually me.”
This only added to the conspiracy theories that TV bosses favoured Steven. uttered, as he began to giggle. Host Sandi Toksvig added: “Is there something about the shape of the snail in particular?”
Judge for yourselves from the picture above... STEVEN CARTER-BAILEY Favourite challenge? I loved the sfogliatella in Italian Week. I am a creative baker and enjoy trying to make something look impressive as well as tasting good. I loved learning an age-old method to produce something authentic. Worst technical challenge? The stroopwafels in Caramel Week. Say no more! #grainycaramel What stage did you think you would get to? I was too frightened to think beyond the week I was in. I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I am still amazed I made it to the final, but also incredibly proud. Is there a baking dream? I now know that I can achieve something if I put my mind to it. Let’s see what happens next. KATE LYON Favourite challenge? I really loved the final showstopper. Of course, I knew that it would be the final challenge of the series and the last time I would be baking in the tent. There wasn’t the same pressure – it was more about just enjoying the experience. Worst technical challenge? In Caramel Week, Episode 4: stroopwafel! What stage did you think you would get to? I take most things as they come – I don’t think too far ahead. I only set out to do the best I could, challenge by challenge. Is there a baking dream? I take each day as it comes. Whatever will be, will be! SOPHIE FALDO Favourite challenge? The technical in Patisserie Week – Les Miserables. I enjoyed it, which is unusual for a technical, and to get such good judging on it was something I am proud of. Worst technical challenge? The Rum Nicky definitely in Week 8. It was the only one where I didn’t know what it was supposed to look like. What stage did you think you would get to? I had no idea going into the tent how well I would fare against the others. It was a real ambition of mine to get to the final five so I was over the moon to surpass that. Is there a baking dream? I knew I wanted to do something baking-related, even before I applied for Bake Off. I don’t know what form that will take so I’m open to all opportunities.