Chigs is master of the mini rolls in passing first Bake Off round
CITY HOPEFUL SURVIVES AN UNDER-DONE MALT LOAF AND COLLAPSING ILLUSION CAKE
BAKE Off hopeful Chigs wowed the judges on his TV debut – despite a malt loaf mishap.
The sales manager from Leicestershire only took up baking during lockdown last year but sailed through the first round of Great British Bake Off, which saw the contestants make mini rolls.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith said they wanted to see a perfect swirl and while many of the bakers struggled, Chigs got off to the perfect start.
He was praised for the “lovely swirl” in his marble chocolate and vanilla sponge filled with strawberries and cream, with Prue adding: “The fresh strawberries are delicious.”
The technical challenge saw the bakers asked to make a malt loaf in two hours.
Prue warned under-baking the “sticky, rich” loaf was likely to leave it sinking in the middle. Chigs struggled to get his timings right, with Paul declaring: “It’s a bit doughy there. I think slightly under-done.”
He came 11th out of the 12 bakers overall, with Prue telling him his effort was “squishy”.
The third and final challenge of the week saw the contestants asked to conjure up an “awe-inspiring anti-gravity illusion cake”.
Chigs created a gravity-defying jug pouring chocolate into a bowl which was made from chocolate sponge with peanut butter and chocolate butter cream.
His jug broke off as he presented the cake to the judges but they were still impressed with his efforts.
Paul said: “I like the bowl, it’s got a bit of movement in it which I quite like.
“The layers are good... I think it’s delicious. I also like the texture. Beautifully moist.”
Prue said: “You’re a very good baker. Maybe your engineering skills need honing a little.”
Away from his baking skills, the first show saw Chigs told he resembled a number of celebrities.
“Do people tell you that you look like someone?” co-host Matt Lucas asked him. “I said a young Robert De Niro.”
“What? I’ll take that,” Chigs replied.
“Somebody else said a young Andy Garcia, somebody else said a young Peter Andre,” Matt added.