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The Great Celebrity Bake Off crowns latest winner after shock twist

Photo credit: Mark Bourdillon - Channel 4
Photo credit: Mark Bourdillon - Channel 4

From Digital Spy

The Great British Bake Off's celebrity special in aid of Stand Up to Cancer was back on Tuesday night (March 19) with a very surprising last-minute baker switch (but more on that later).

In the tent with hosts Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig and judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood were comedian Johnny Vegas, rapper Big Narstie, Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Labour MP Jess Phillips.

First up was the signature challenge where the bakers were tasked with making 18 identical pieces of shortbread which were shaped and decorated.

Photo credit: Zoe Howe - Channel 4
Photo credit: Zoe Howe - Channel 4

Jess was making bee-hive-shaped shortbread, flavoured with lemon and honey from her mother-in-law, a bee keeper. Katarina went for lemon and white chocolate-flavoured in the shape of an Olympic medal.

Narstie was making dog-shaped shortbread-flavoured with vanilla and nutmeg with a salted caramel topping.

While Johnny, who revealed earlier he had not washed his hands in three days, went for beer glass-shaped biscuits which were flavoured with vodka, ginger and lime.

In the judging, Paul and Prue found Johnny's to be under-baked but Paul thought his icing tasted incredible. Jess' were overall very good and looked pretty.

Photo credit: Mark Bourdillon - Channel 4
Photo credit: Mark Bourdillon - Channel 4

Prue thought Katarina's tasted 'beautiful' and Paul found them 'absolutely delicious'. But it was Big Narstie who really impressed, with Prue declaring she had 'never tasted shortbread like that' (in a good way).

Next up was the dreaded technical challenge, where Paul had tasked the bakers with making six pork pies and an apple chutney.

Narstie, who doesn't eat pork, went for a spicy beef filling instead. But during the baking, he decided to 'go rogue' and completely ignore Paul's specifications and make two big pies instead of six small ones.

When it came to the judging, sadly Johnny had under-baked again, but his pies still tasted good. Katarina had also under-baked, but she still managed to get a good flavour.

Photo credit: Channel 4
Photo credit: Channel 4

Jess ended up winning the challenge, with the judges finding her pies delicious. As for Narstie, he unsurprisingly came last for not fulfilling the brief, even though Prue seemed to really enjoy the taste.

When it came time for the showstopper, there was a big twist in store. Before the challenge began, Noel told the contestants: "Unfortunately, Big Narstie can’t be with us today as he’s a little bit unwell, but he will be replaced by another baker. It’s a seamless swap, don’t worry.”

The replacement baker was revealed to be Sandi, who was given a basic banana cake recipe to follow, while the decorations were up to her.

The bakers were tasked with making a portrait of themselves in cake form which had to be two tiers tall and recognisable as them.

Sandi was depicting herself peering over a spiced banana bread wall, while Johnny's cake was in the shape of a pottery wheel and flavoured with stout.

Katarina's cake was flavoured with almond and Amaretto and showed her competing in the long jump. Jess went for a cardamond and fennel-flavoured bake, with a feminist 'smash the patriarchy' theme.

Johnny finally got the timing right with his baking and produced a very good sponge which Paul said tasted beautiful. However, Jess' was over-baked and the judges found it tasted quite dry.

Photo credit: Channel 4
Photo credit: Channel 4

Katarina's got a positive report from Prue who said her cake was very good and she particularly enjoyed the 'knicker section'.

Sandi ended up with a handshake from Paul for what he said was a well-thought-through and well-baked cake.

But in the end it was Jess who was awarded Star Baker, thanks to a consistently good performance throughout the challenges, after Prue and Paul decided Sandi couldn't win on the basis of her showstopper alone.

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer continues next Tuesday (March 26) at 8pm on Channel 4.


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