Great British Bake Off fans crown their star baker of this year's series already
Straight-talking palliative care assistant Nelly has already gained a huge fanbase among viewers of the baking show.
What did you miss?
The Great British Bake Off contestant Nelly has been declared the "star" of this year's series - with some calling for her to become the new presenter.
The 44-year-old straight-talking palliative care assistant has already gained a huge fanbase among viewers of the baking show. Just three weeks into the series in Bread Week, Nelly's strong flavours and charismatic personality has won over fans, who are declaring their love for her and campaigning for her to win.
What, how, and why?
Nurse Nelly grew up in Slovakia, studied nursing in Austria and her husband has Pakistani heritage, so she has a variety of influences in her bakes, but also many stories to tell. Her bright and colourful style gives judge Prue Leith a run for her money, and she is frank and open but with a strong sense of humour when it comes to talking to camera about her bakes.
In Biscuit Week the mother to two sons painted stars all over her showstopper gingerbread puppet show. She said the stars represented her unborn children, who were just as important to her as her actual children.
In Bread Week Nelly plaited a small piece of dough as she practiced the technical challenge. When host Alison Hammond joked she could wear it as a moustache Nelly quipped: "I got that already, I just shave it, leave it!", and batted the presenter off.
When she came first in the technical challenge for making the plaited loaf, Nelly burst into tears. She said: "It's very hard for me to take compliment because all my life I wasn't good enough, So from Paul, the king of bread, it's the biggest compliment I could ever have."
She also won praise for her showstopper cornucopia, filled with onion and potato buns.
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What did viewers say?
Viewers have fallen in love with Nelly.
One wrote on social media platform X: "The winner of The Great British Bake Off (so far) is Nelly." Another said: "Not to be dramatic, but I would do anything for her. Icon. #GBBO" One shared: "Sooooo Nelly is winning this whole show right? RIGHT? #GBBO" And another posted: "Time for this week’s edition of “Nelly’s Great British Bake Off:"
Another commented: "I need a hug from Nelly at some point in my life #GBBO"
Nelly's fans are eager for her to remain in the Channel 4 baking show all the way to the final.
One declared: "If Nelly isn't in the final I'll be fuming! Shes my winner already #GBBO" Another exclaimed: "Nelly to win, I’ll riot if it’s anyone else #GBBO" And another vowed: "If Prue and Paul ever try to send Nelly home, I will hunt them down. #GBBO"
Some viewers even think Nelly could make a great new host for the show.
One tweeted: "I love Nelly, I want her to take Alison’s place next season #GBBO"
What else happened on The Great British Bake Off?
In an unusual technical baker Paul Hollywood demonstrated how to make to make a seven-strand plaited wreath, instead of giving the contestants written instructions. His efforts earned a round of applause from the contestants and a handshake from host Noel Fielding.
For the signature challenge the bakers were asked to make 12 identical savoury buns. Georgie's cheese Chelsea buns were not quite cheesy enough for Hollywood. He said "I would have given a handshake for that but it needed more parmesan. I'll give you a pat." and the Welsh nurse got a pat on the back.
Retail temp Dylan did get a Hollywood handshake for his fermented chilli buns. He was named star baker of bread week.
For the showstopper the challenge the contestants had to make a cornucopia - a horn of bread filled with buns. Support manager John, from the West Midlands, left the tent in tears when his bagels sank.
Host Alison Hammond has already admitted the fellow-West Midlander is her favourite contestant. She went and gave him a pep talk. She told John: "Listen, when I did Strictly, it was the dance off and I knew I was going. But Aljaz said to me,' She could still fall over.' So get back in there and do it, and someone could still fall over." Hammond competed in Strictly in 2014, dancing with pro Aljaz Skorjanec, and was eliminated in week 7 after a dance off with the late Caroline Flack.
John was sent home. He said: "It's fine, it was expected. It was just a bad week this week." He got a hug from Hollywood. He said: "The tears are tears of pride."
The Great British Bake Off airs Channel 4 at 8pm on Tuesday.