Baker Rav goes after failing to blossom in floral challenge

Tomis star baker after wowing judges with his showstopper

Rav Bansal has admitted he felt like a “cat that was running out of lives” as he became the sixth contestant to exit The Great British Bake Off.

The university support worker from Kent previously impressed judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood with his flavours and fusion recipes.

But he failed to rise to the challenge of botanical week with his margherita meringue pie and blossom cake, and got his marching orders from the tent.

Bansal, 28, said: “I was so proud to get past the halfway mark, my biggest fear was getting kicked out first, and I did feel like a cat that was running out of its lives.

“All the way through whenever I was doing badly, I somehow managed to pull it back.

“It was an up and down ride, but I went out with a smile on my face.”

Bansal and the other bakers were given three all-new challenges – having to create a citrus meringue pie for the signature bake, fougasse bread in the technical and a floral cake of at least three tiers for the showstopper.

Bansal’s margherita meringue pie was deemed “too soft” by Hollywood, who also suggested that the flavour was not strong enough.

His fougasse won third place, but his blossom cake proved to be his undoing, with Berry saying it lacked creativity and Hollywood calling it “a bit samey”.

There was better news for Bake Off hopeful Tom Gilliford, who clinched the coveted title of star baker this week.

The 26-year-old from Rochdale whipped up a blood orange and pumpkin pie in the signature bake and took first place in the technical challenge with his tasty fougasse.

The judges were delighted with his floral tea cake in the showstopper.

“You have absolutely cracked it with brilliant Genoese sponges,” said Berry.

Picture: BBC. It all went flat for Rav Bansal last night.