Prue Leith

Lesley’s time in the Bake Off tent came to an end after a tough meringue-themed week saw her struggle to impress the judges and become the seventh contestant to leave the competition

Hairdresser Lesley has become the seventh baker to be eliminated from The Great British Bake Off after struggling during the show’s first-ever meringue-themed week.

In Tuesday night’s episode, the remaining contestants were faced with three demanding challenges designed to test their precision and patience.

For the signature bake, they were asked to create mini meringue tarts, followed by a classic yet notoriously tricky soufflé in the technical round.

Finally, the showstopper challenge required the bakers to produce a visually impressive meringue ice cream cake – a task that pushed even the most confident contestants to their limits.

Despite her best efforts, Lesley’s bakes failed to impress the judges, and she was told by co-host Alison Hammond that her time in the tent had come to an end.

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Business development executive Toby, meanwhile, was named star baker by presenter Noel Fielding after delivering consistently strong results across all three challenges.

Lesley, 59, from Kent, admitted she had expected her departure. “Do you know what, I knew it was coming,” she said.

“It’s like ripping the plaster off! Thanks so much for the experience, it has been amazing. I couldn’t get my meringue right and had resigned myself to the fact I’d be going. But I’m proud that I made it to week seven. The other bakers gave me a massive cuddle, which meant the world.”

Judge Dame Prue Leith praised Lesley for her enthusiasm and warmth throughout the competition. “I’m really sorry to see Lesley go,” she said.

“She’s a remarkable woman and, in a way, she’s my ideal baker – she’s just really having a good time. That’s what Bake Off is all about.”

Following her exit, Lesley reflected on how much she had gained from her time in the famous tent. “I think I’ve grown as a person and feel more confident in myself and my abilities,” she said.

“I’ve learned new skills, trusted my gut feeling, and realised you need to step through fear and take yourself out of your comfort zone, that’s how you grow. I’ve had the time of my life.”

Having baked since the age of ten, Lesley said her highlight on the show was “winning the technical in chocolate week.”

Looking ahead, she hopes to open a small baking school, run a “cake shed” where people can buy homemade treats, and write a cookbook inspired by her late grandmother’s traditional recipes.

Lesley will appear on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice with Jo Brand and Tom Allen on Friday, October 17, at 8pm on Channel 4.

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GREAT British Bake Off fans were left unimpressed by a ‘disgusting’ hygiene mistake – but did you spot it?

Viewers tuned in for episode three of the Channel 4 show’s ongoing series.

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In this instalment, the amateur bakers were tasked with the Monkey Bread challenge.

As Alison Hammond, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith chatted to the hopefuls, fans highlighted a hygiene mistake.

It involved contestant Nadia Mercuri, 41, who is a hairdresser from Liverpool.

Viewers spotted how Nadia touched her hair followed by the food she was preparing.

One wrote on X: “I really wanna just grab of all Nadia’s hair and tie it up properly!!”

Another added: “Stop touching your hair NADIA and then touching the food – disgusting!”

While a third said: “It really bugs me that these women are just letting their hair freely go over the food like that.”

Nadia ultimately advanced to the next episode – with bridal designer Carol “Pui Man” Li being eliminated.

It was recently revealed Bake Off was rejected for five years before arriving on our screens.

Back in 2010, the now-adored programme made its debut on BBC Two.

Co-creator Richard McKerrow recalled himself and Anna Beattie fighting for bosses to put their faith into the format.

Speaking at Edinburgh TV Festival, he shared: “We pitched Bake Off for four or five years.

“We were told it would be like watching paint dry, no one was interested.”

The Great British Bake Off made the move from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017.

This decision saw judge Paul Hollywood being the only star to remain on board.

Fellow original judge Mary Berry as well as hosts Mel & Sue all opted to bow out.

Paul was joined by Prue Leith and new host Noel Fielding, with various co-hosts over the years.

The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4.

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One contestant has already been sent home on this year’s Great British Bake Off as viewers didn’t think it came as a surprise following a few clues along the way

Great British Bake Off fans were convinced they knew who would be the first contestant to be sent off after spotting some telling clues. The hit Channel 4 baking competition made its long awaited comeback on Tuesday night.

Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith welcomed 12 new bakers into the iconic tent for a fresh round of the competition. However, things didn’t get off on an easy start for Cake Week.

The judges ramped things up by withholding the instructions during the technical challenge and set the bakers a tough showstopper challenge before deciding who would be first out.

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Before Prue and Paul revealed who would be going home already, some viewers were convinced they knew who it would be. One said: “I hear everyone saying Hassan has a chance but like he’s messed up 2 challenges whereas Iain has won one, unless Hassan does an amazing cake idk mannnnn.”

Another added: “Im not sure Hassan is surviving this week…” Someone else commented: “Ohhh Hassan. Poor guys caramel done him completely. Absolutely brutal.”

A fourth wrote: “If it ain’t Hassan, then Im sensing a first week ‘nobody is going’.” Sadly, it was Hassan that was sent packing after just the first episode.

After his exit, Hassan admitted: “I had a strong inkling I was out after the judging for my Showstopper, so when I heard my name, I thought ‘Damn, I guess that’s it for me then’.

“I remember Prue coming up to give us a big hug first, then turning left and having a huge queue of people lined up to give us a hug – the support from all of them felt reassuring to me and helped cheer me up a lot.”

Hassan said he would stick to his day job but continue to bake as a hobby. “In terms of my goals in the overall baking world, I don’t have any plans,” he said.

Revealing what fans can expect, host Alison teased: “You’ve got six men and six women from all over Britain. They’re all really exciting bakers. It’s not just about the baking for them. They’ve got families and really good jobs as well.”

While Prue added: “This year we had quite a lot of designers and engineers, and it showed in their baking. They were so much better at construction.”

“They just take it so seriously. It’s like a science to them, because that’s how they are within their work,” Alison continued. People are going to be blown away.

“There’s a few failures as well, as to be expected. It’s going to be so much fun. Paul’s on form, Prue’s on form, Noel is just so funny. It’s classic Bake Off. We say it every year but it’s a wonderful series.”

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THE Great British Bake Off is over for another year, with the famous white tent closing its doors once more.

But before the show said goodbye, a brand new winner was crowned. Here we take a look at the new champ’s story.

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Bake Off winner crowned

Legendary judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith returned for The Great British Bake Off 2024, and were joined by hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.

The final episode saw three finalists go head-to head – Georgie Grasso, Christiaan De Vries, and Dylan Bachelet.

It was a tense finale for the bakers who faced off in a garden party themed showstopper challenge.

In the end. the winner was Welsh paediatric nurse Georgie.

She wowed judges Paul and Prue with her three tier lemon and elderflower hanging cake.

After hosts Alison and Noel announced the result, Georgie said: “Being the first Welsh baker in the final was a massive achievement in itself, so to have won it is just the best feeling in the world. 

“The fact that I did it for Wales was amazing, it felt so surreal and my legs went to jelly.”

After she was handed the coveted glass cake stand by the judges, the mum-of-three revealed: “I have always been so self doubtful.

“I have got this and that wrong with me and think I can’t do it, and you make excuses.

“For once I thought I am just going to go for it and put my everything into it. Working all hours and I sacrificed time with the kids and the family.”

The series 15 winner star praised her fellow competitors and said Bake Off was the “best thing” she had ever done.

“I am already feeling sad that I am not coming back here and not seeing everyone, ” the star baker admitted.

“The people I have met are going to be best friends for life.   This is the best thing I have ever done.”

Commenting on her victory, judge Paul said: “The Welsh Wonder, Georgie smashed it out of the park.”

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Fellow judge Prue added: “Georgie did what she does best  –  classic British baking beautifully done, and won it and quite right too.”

During her journey on the show, Georgie was awarded the title of Star Baker twice by the judges for her work in Caramel Week and for her 70s inspired dishes.

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Meet Georgia’s fellow finalists

Christiaan

Born in the Netherlands, Christiaan is a menswear designer who now lives in London.

He impressed the judges and won his first Star Baker title in the semi-final.

Speaking to his fans on Instagram about his Bake Off journey, Christiaan said: “Where do I even begin? This past year has been absolutely indescribable.

“I’ve grown in ways I never thought possible, met friends for life, and learned so much about baking!

“I’m beyond grateful for all the support I’ve received, both online and in person.

“The love you’ve shown me is more than I ever dared to dream of, and meeting so many of you out and about has truly lifted me up every single day.

“Congratulations to the amazing @georgiegrasso —you’re an absolute powerhouse, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for you, darling.”

Dylan 

Dylan was thrilled he made it to the final, and just missed out on scooping the crown.

During his Bake Off journey, the retail assistant won Star Baker twice and got a Hollywood handshake.

Speaking about his time on the famous Channel 4 show, he shared a lengthy post on Instagram which read: “@georgiegrasso and @christiaan.de.vries are unbelievable bakers, I was in awe of their work.

“The final was a rollercoaster, but I enjoyed it so much, and looking back on it now, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

Going on he added: “I couldn’t have ever imagined I’d be in the final, I barely baked before the show, every week was a different beast, so with every week I learnt so much in order to get through.

“I took the whole show a week at a time, never stopping to look back at what I’d done, and now it’s over, I’m a finalist.”

Dylan ended the post with: “I will forever relish the memories of our dinners, an absolute highlight of my life, free food and fantastic company.”

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Leaving the Bake Off Tent

Every week Bake Off had to say goodbye to another contestant.

The show started off with 12 amateur bakers all taking part in 2024, and they were slowly whittled down:

• Semi-final – Gill, 53, senior category manager – just missed out on the final at left in Patisserie Week.
• Week eight – Illiyin, 31, birth trauma specialist midwife – left in 1970s week.
• Week seven – Sumayah, 19, student – left the show in Dessert Week.
• Week six – Nelly, 44, palliative care assistant – was voted off in the show’s first Autumn Week.
• Week five – Andy, 44, car mechanic – left the show in Pastry Week.
• Week four – Mike, 29, farmer – left the famous white tent in Caramel Week.
• Week three – John, 37, NHS directorate support manager – was voted off in Bread Week.
• Week two – Hazel, 71, former nail technician – got her marching orders in Biscuit Week.
• Week two – Jeff, 67, former university lecturer – had to leave the competition for medical reasons.
• Week one – No one.

TWO of this year’s Great British Bake Off finalists are left scrambling to remake their creations during tonight’s finale.

The latest series of the beloved Channel 4 programme comes to an end as the three remaining contestants battle it out.

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Viewers will watch as Christiaan, Dylan and Georgie enter the famous tent for one last time in a bid to impress Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.

But in an exclusive first look at the tense finale, Georgie and Dylan are left scrambling when they’re forced to remake their signature pieces.

The contestants are tasked with baking twelve sweet and twelve savoury scones – with each required to have two different fillings.

Georgie, 34, could be heard saying: “The raspberry ones aren’t right, they aren’t right, so I’ll definitely just remake them.

While Dylan said of his scones: “That’s not right, they don’t look great… How much time have we got left?”

As Alison Hammond announced the bakers were halfway through their time, the panic starts to set in.

While it remains to be seen if the pair can produce their creations in time for Paul and Prue, Christiaan ploughs on with making his fillings.

The Great British Bake Off will air these scenes during tonight’s final from 8pm on Channel 4 and on catch up.

Speaking to The Sun’s TV Mag ahead of the final, Georgie confessed: “The final Showstopper is probably the most challenging bake I’ve ever done.

“When I saw the brief I thought, game over. It took a lot of thought and planning to be able to make it work.

“I practised about 3 times. I really wanted the judges to get a true reflection of me in the bake, with my colours and flavours.

“The most stressful element was by far the construction along with the time.”

Elsewhere, fellow Bake Off finalist Christiaan admitted he was in absolute shock to make it to the final week of the contest.

He confessed that as he began to progress through the contest, he began to “dream” that he may be able to finally lift the crown.

Whilst for fan-favourite Dylan he has been left surprised by the huge support online and is still getting used to adjusting to life in the spotlight.

The star said: “It’s been odd getting recognised, I really didn’t think I
would get recognised that often, but I have.”

Great British Bake off cast 2024

The Great British Bake Off is back for another series of the heartwarming Channel 4 show.

Legendary judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back to give their expert opinion, while hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond are on hand to lift the bakers spirits.

Here are the amateur bakers all taking part in 2024.

• Andy, 44, car mechanic.
• Christiaan, 33, menswear designer.
• Dylan, 20, retail assistant.
• Georgie, 34, paediatric nurse.
• Gill, 53, senior category manager.
• Hazel, 71, former nail technician.
• Illiyin, 31, birth trauma specialist midwife.
• Jeff, 67, former university lecturer.
• John, 37, NHS directorate support manager.
• Mike, 29, farmer.
• Nelly, 44, palliative care assistant.
• Sumayah, 19, student.