Tears and a jaffa disaster in saucy start to Bake Off
MILLIONS tuned in for a saucy start to the new series of The Great British Bake Off last night.
With Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood again at the helm of the hugely popular BBC show, the first episode was spiced up with a wealth of double entendres.
While contestant Jane Beedle was named Star Baker and pastor Lee Blanfield, 67, was the first to leave the tent, all enjoyed a raucous initial outing.
There were 13 innuendos in the first 20 minutes. And there was a cake so laden with gin that Mary, 81, said it would make her tipsy.
Tipsy
While contestants were told to keep their cakes “moist”, there was much giggling as the suggestive remarks continued.
But the strain was showing on contestants’ faces by the time the last round, the showstopper, took place. Asked to make a mirror-glazed cake using a Genoise sponge, four contestants felt they’d done so badly they binned their concoctions and began again.
Benjamina Ebuehi appeared to find it particularly hard to cope and broke down in tears. Candice Brown also looked red-eyed.
Lee said of his early exit: “I’m disappointed to be the first off but I’ve always enjoyed baking and at church I do regular baking demonstrations.
“I won’t show the congregation how to make a jaffa cake. I’m not going to repeat that experience – I’ll buy them a pack instead.
“We had a great night with family and friends watching the first episode and celebrating that I had been part of the Bake Off.
“I count it as a privilege to have actually got on the show. I baked the lemon and orange drizzle cake, and everyone loved it.
“My wife Dorothy encouraged me to apply. We have been married for 47 years, so I do take her advice. I submitted the application form never thinking I would hear back and was then delighted to be accepted.
“My two children are now grown-up and have their own children so they are all very excited to be following the show.”
He added: “My best moment was seeing the tent for the first time in real life. To be on the set and see the location and the crew was exciting and I didn’t feel too intimidated by the cameras. Mary was lovely, she supported me when Paul might have given an adverse comment.
“Mel and Sue were always great and encouraging. Paul liked my flavours, so I am happy to take that away with me.
“My worst moment was when Paul held up my jaffa cake and said: ‘That isn’t a jaffa cake’. I was trying to keep a straight face so I didn’t give it away that it was mine. It has been a lovely experience – I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
“What I want to do is to carry on baking, doing my demonstrations at the church alongside my job of being a pastor.
“The bakers are a great bunch and we have become really good friends. I was only there for 48 hours but in that short time we sparked and formed a great bonding and relationship. We all knew what we were facing and helped each other.”
But as Lee departed, judge Paul Hollywood said all who had made it to the show should be pleased with their efforts.
He added: “It’s very sad, but as I’ve just been saying to Lee now, you are one of the 12 best amateur bakers in the country. You should be very proud of yourself.”
Lee will join Jo Brand on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice tomorrow at 9pm on BBC Two.