The Whitsons’ Kitchen

There was a moment of panic in Whitson’s Kitchen last night when the Doyenne thought she had mislaid her trademark green pinny which she has to wear to watch Bake Off.

It was down to seven bakers this week and they looked a bit isolated and self-conscious as they marched into the tent, but trying to look brave.

This week was the pastry challenge and it really was the Doyenne’s week as pastry is her long suit in the cauldron which is Whitson’s Kitchen. She is her Yorkshire mother’s daughter and sat scrunching up her pinny in frustration, just dying to be able to get in there herself and show one or two of the bakers how to do it. There was a time when her hand-raised game pies were the toast of three counties.

I thought for one moment Sophie was going to get a Leith Handshake which would have been a first, but it only got as far as a supportive pat. I suppose in Bake Off pecking order, Paul claims seniority and the right to all handshakes.

“Oh Bum”, expostulated Yan at one of Prue’s put-downs. The Doyenne thought she should have let rip but it was the perfect cue for the appearance of the inescapable soggy bottoms.

This week’s conundrum was how to get from monks and nuns to tarts, and the answer lay in the custard.

Liam’s boyish pleasure at being declared Star Baker contrasted with Sandi’s tears at Julia leaving the tent this week. We thought these TV personalities were made of sterner stuff and weren’t so flaky.