The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Rowan fails to rise to third challenge

- ALEX GREEN

Rowan has become the third amateur baker to be eliminated from The Great British Bake Off. The 55- year old from Worcesters­hire failed to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith during last night’ s bread-themed episode.

“I’ve had a wonderful time. It is exhausting, but very rewarding,” he said as he left the tent.

He was the third person to leave the Channel 4 show, after 50- year- old accountant Ma k and 27- year-old diagnostic radiograph­er Loriea were axed in previous weeks.

The signature challenge saw the bakers try their hand at two soda bread loaves, one sweet and one savoury, with an accompanyi­ng butter.

Marc, 51, a bronze resin sculptor from Cornwall, suffered a mishap with his buttermilk, spraying it over his workstatio­n

“I’m all right. I’m carrying on,” he told co-hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas.

Despite this, Marc impressed the judges, with Leith describing his savoury loaf as “delicious”.

After an unsuccessf­ul start to the competitio­n, Hermine, 39, an accountant from London, won the second Ho l lywood handshake of the series for her savoury salmon and sweet boozy fruit breads.

Hollywood told her: “I love the fact I have never had them before and that’s what Bake Off is all about.”

In the techn ica l challenge, the contestant­s crafted six rainbow coloured bagels, featuring five different colours – a tribute to the NHS.

The rainbow has become a symbol of hope during the pandemic , with children making pictures of them to stick to their windows.

Row an ,55, a music teacher from Worcesters­hire, placed in last, while Marc took second and retired living team leader Linda, 61, took first.

For the showstoppe­r, the contest ants were challenged to create a large decorative bread plaque in the style of a traditiona­l harvest festival sheaf.

It needed to display the one thing they were most grateful for, with choices including a Worcester pear tree and a beachside home.

Hermine’s depiction of her motorway journey to France, constructe­d of brioche and focaccia, failed to impress Hollywood on taste.

Laura’s musicals-inspired bake featured comedy and tragedy masks in a nod to the West End.

However, her bake failed to rise and Hollywood labelled it “raw”.

Marc crafted a Buddhist

dharma wheel after a book on meditation helped his mental recovery after losing his leg in a motorcycle accident in 2016.

Leith described it as “surprising and pretty and quite neat, and certainly colourful”.

Production of the 11th series was initially delayed because of the pandemic, but filming finished near the end of August.

The bakers, presenters and others working on the programme formed a “bubble” in Down Hall Hotel near Bishop ’s Stortford, Hertfordsh­ire, throughout the duration of filming, after being tested for the v irus and self-isolating.

It is exhausting but very rewarding

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 ??  ?? Host Matt Lucas with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. Below: Baker Rowan.
Host Matt Lucas with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. Below: Baker Rowan.

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