Yahoo News Great British Bake Off 2023: Pastry week sends two contestants home
Two bakers were sent packing from the famous tent
What did you miss?
After chocolate week saw every contestant stay on the show due to Tasha coming down with an illness, Bake Off has made up for it by sending two of the bakers home.
Nicky and Rowan were sent home by the judges with Nicky looking doomed from the start and Rowan let down by a poor showstopper challenge where he baked a pie inspired by Absolutely Fabulous that looked a lot better than it tasted.
Early in the episode, Nicky says: “I actually like pastry. I find it quite therapeutic," and they proved to be her famous last words as she struggled throughout the week
Nicky also had a poor showstopper with Paul Hollywood saying it was the first time he had ever eaten a "dry" apple pie but she remained her bubbly self to the very end.
What, how, and why?
While both Nicky and Rowan were popular with fans – Nicky for her positive energy and frequently steaming up glasses and Rowan for his excellent use of innuendo – it was time for them to leave the tent and were seen hugging each other before the judge's verdict was read out by Noel Fielding.
“A massive thanks to everyone for all their support”
Here’s Nicky’s lovely farewell message to you all. ❤️ #GBBO pic.twitter.com/uBN16hVqZI— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) October 24, 2023
After it was announced he would be leaving the show, Rowan said to the camera: "Saying goodbye is the worst part about this. Not the absolute roast I got at the showstopper."
Nicky also took the result with her typical humour, saying: "It’s been like a bag of pants this week and you can’t stay in after a bag of pants, there’s no way."
It would be amiss not to mention a great Rowan one liner that seemed to predict his future: “I never feel confident about anything in my life, and pastry is no exception."
What else happened on Bake Off?
The signature challenge this week was 12 individual savoury picnic pies which must be made with hot water crust pastry.
The bakers go for an international array of pies with Dana making a French dauphinoise and Matty goes for a Greek Spanapotika. Dan and Tasha make some rookie mistakes by being late to put the oven on and forgetting to add egg wash to the pastry respectively.
Cristy ends up receiving a famous Hollywood handshake for her leek and mushroom pie and it almost moves her to tears after she admits she has been suffering from imposter syndrome.
The technical challenge this week is dauphinoise pithivier and Dan yet again has a bit of a mare after grating some of his finger into the pastry and having to start all over again but that does not affect his overall bake as he comes in first.
After the showstopper, where the bakers had to come up with a decorative sweet pie display, Cristy was named star baker to top off her excellent week.
Will we be back for more?
Next week is botanical week which has not been seen on Bake Off since 2010 with the contestants set a variety of challenges relating to nature.
With the theme not seen on the show in over a decade, it will be interesting to see what ideas the bakers come up with given the lack of precedent.
The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4 every Tuesday at 8pm.
