The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dorret vows to keep on baking despite exit
Preston accountant’s ‘showstopper’ stopped her show
Dorret Conway has vowed to keep baking, despite becoming the third contestant to exit the Great British Bake Off.
Her exit was less of a surprise for the public after judge Mary Berry accidentally revealed who was going home during an interview with Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 yesterday morning.
The accountant from Preston was eliminated after presenting Berry and Paul Hollywood with a walnut and stilton soda bread that “could have been more intense”, as well as a “showstopper” that failed to impress the judges.
“I bake to entertain my friends at dinner parties, it’s more of a hobby and an interest to make something memorable to eat when people come to our house,” Dorret said. “I was genuinely surprised to be accepted as I know the standard gets higher each year.”
The amateur baker came close to elimination in week one, when her Black Forest gateau melted into a mess of chocolate mousse.
The gateau disaster was nicknamed the “Mudslide” on Twitter, but Conway was delighted to receive sympathy from the Bake Off audience: “I got incredible support, which was great because at the time it was quite traumatic.”
Conway had a better second episode, winning the technical challenge with her arlettes.
Episode three brought Bread Week, where her “showstopper” bread version of Tracey Emin’s Unmade Bed failed to secure her a place for week four.
“To choose something that’s untidy to start with doesn’t give a good impression when we first look at it,” Berry warned.
The amateur baker intends to keep improving her baking skills, explaining that she likes to “blag” her way into kitchen restaurants to pick up ideas from chefs.
She said: “I think for now I would like to take some courses, develop my skills and keep learning.
“I would love to go to a Cordon Bleu school to soak up some knowledge.”
Dorret Conway will join Jo Brand on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice tomorrow at 9pm on BBC Two.