10 e You’r for smarter
MARION MCMULLEN N checks out some top baking bad moments as the Great British Bake Off returns
When is it time e to ready, steady, bake? The ovens will be turned on for the new BBC 1 series at 8pm on Wednesday and cake-loving funny woman Jo Brand will be back on BBC 2 on Friday with spin-off show
An Extra Slice. Who lost their cool? Belfast contestant Iain Watters went into meltdown last year when his Baked Alaska was taken briefly out of the fridge by fellow contestant Diana Beard. The “bingate” incident saw Iain pour his melted mess away and storm off. Paul Hollywood later tweeted: “At the end of the day Mary and I need something to judge, it’s not about melted ice cream but about what’s presented to us.”
Who’s a cowardly custard? Contestant Howard Middleton made his perfect custard in 2013
only for fellow baker Deborah to accidentally use it in her trifle instead. Deborah Manger later admitted her mistake and apologised to Howard for “custardgate”. Presenter Sue Perkins joked it could have been “the most incredible case of baking espionage I’ve ever seen”. Any other Howard howlers? Presenter Sue Perkins did lean her elbow into one of Howard’s muffins during the show, but he was able to serve the rest of them up to Mary and Paul.
Oh, crumbs! It’s not just soggy bottoms contestants have to worry about. Presenter Mel Giedroyc toppled a tower of biscuits in 2013 as she tried to measure Frances Quinn’s signature bake. Mel had to prop up the biscuits by hand which led to the hashtags #humancakestand and #MelToTheRescue.
Who went nutty? A well-endowed male squirrel was caught on camera in the Bake Off tent during the 2011 grand final. It became the hot topic on online TV forums and one viewer joked: “This evening’s Great British Bake Off contains full-frontal squirrel nudity which some viewers may find startling.” Who had the last laugh? Finalist Ruby Tandoh was accused of flirting with judge Paul Hollywood in the 2013 series to get ahead. She strongly denied the accusations and came out as gay on twitter a few months ago. She previously stated: “I’d rather eat my own foot than attempt to seduce my way to victory.”
Fancy a nibble? Presenters Mel and Sue are known for their saucy innuendoes but Mary Berry has been known to make the odd cheeky comment herself, informing viewers that fellow judge
Paul “loves his buns”. What about some film star treatment? Hollywood stars Hugh Jackman and Billy Crystal showed just how risqué it gets on Bake Off when they joined Mary and Paul as guests on the Graham Norton Show and read some of the innuendos from the baking show. What’s the icing on the cake? Mary’s jackets have become one of the surprise hits of Bake Off. Her fashion sense has inspired many female viewers to go out and buy the outfits she wears. A floral Zara bomber jacket the 80-year-old wore sold out within hours hours.urs.