The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Perthshire Bake Off star is on a roll after rising to challenge
Contestant crowned star baker despite saying he was suffering from ‘bread dread’
Perthshire’s Michael Chakraverty was on a roll during bread week on the Great British Bake Off, having been crowned star baker.
This was despite his initial lack of confidence about making bread.
During the show, Michael – who was brought up in Scone – said he had “bread dread”.
Judging Michael’s bread, Paul Hollywood liked what the contestant had done overall.
On completing the challenges of bread week on the Channel Four programme, Michael said: “I think it didn’t go badly, which is good.”
Sportswear designer Amelia became the third baker to leave the tent.
She said she knew bread would be her weakness on the show, and failed to impress with her burger buns in the technical challenge, or her scored bread in the showstopper.
She said: “It’s no surprise to me that I left on bread week, it’s never been my strength.
“I didn’t rise to the challenge of bread week exactly, but I literally had so much fun.
“I tried my best and I would like to think that I have proved I’m a good baker.”
Hollywood said of her efforts: “Amelia is a decent baker and it showed in her showstopper – her idea was sound enough but it just wasn’t executed very well, and she struggled in the signature.”
Being sent home by Hollywood and fellow judge Prue Leith, Amelia said exiting the tent has felt like the end of a relationship.
She said: “The whole process of leaving the tent felt a bit like a break up.
“The sadness, the denial, a bit of it’s not you it’s me, so you have to remind yourself it’s still an amazing achievement.”
The technical challenge was to make floury baps, leading to endless jokes about... liking a pert bun
Week 3 is bread week and ovens aren’t the only thing overheating in the Bake Off kitchen.
It might as well be Naked Attraction in there, what with all the innuendo and sexual tension crackling between the participants.
Last night’s tasks included tear and share and slashing and scoring, which sound remarkably like the febrile mood of our nation right now; here it’s a pack of bakers whipped into shape by sultry, scowling Paul strutting around like a Butlins Redcoat who has just been told to judge a knobbly knees contest.
Channeling Brando via the Mersey, Hollywood cuts a stern figure but his arrogance is both alluring and justified given that he’s the main one on set who knows what he’s talking about.
As Noel flirted around him so did Steph, all doe eyes and doughballs against Helena’s cookie Spanish crust.
The technical challenge was to make floury baps, leading to endless jokes about shaping buns and liking a pert bun.
You wondered if they should all get a room that didn’t feature a cooker.
Prue dramatically choked on chilli and chorizo, spitting that it was “certainly powerful” as Paul mentally did the Heimlich manoeuvre on her.
“Our” Michael from Scone produced a genuinely fantastic Keralan Star Bread, and a coveted handshake from Paul – finally cracking the Hollywood shell to reveal Hollyoaks inside.
Michael then deservedly won star baker while Amelia went home.
The heat is on!