Great British Bake Off viewers branded its Dessert Week technical challenge the show’s “worst ever” after the bakers flopped – producing puddings the judges couldn’t even eat. It saw judge Prue Leith declaring it “the worst thing I’ve ever judged on Bake Off”.
The baking disaster unfolded after the remaining bakers were challenged to make six orange and ginger steamed sponge puddings with creme anglaise. Paul Hollywood, who set the challenge, told them the recipe had “three distinctive textures” and they had to get them all right for it to work.
But it all went horribly wrong for the bakers, with many of their puddings emerging from the oven still raw. Paul branded Cristy’s puddings “inedible” while Matty’s puddings were called “terrible”. Tash won the round but only because her effort was judged “not as terrible but still pretty terrible” by Paul.
Co-presenter Alison Hammond joked in an attempt to comfort the bakers: “At least you’re all on the same level!” But Paul declared: “You let me down, you let yourselves down…consider yourselves roasted.”
Prue added: “I think the technical was the worst thing I’ve ever judged on Bake Off.”
Viewers were unimpressed that it was so difficult for the bakers to succeed. Some suggested Paul was at fault for setting a task nobody could successfully complete.
On X @D7NAMITE_ said: “Surely they’re not going to count that technical for star baker? Everyone did awful” and @natalieguest12 commented: “Not every single one being raw! Surely they have to get the hint that the time limit on this was one was ridiculous. Low key hilarious though, it’s great that they’ve all failed together”.
@GullLynne said: “Worst Technical ever” and @KBSquared4 commented: “That was absolutely THE WORST technical I have ever seen” while @ashleighgemmap said: “Clearly an issue with the instructions there if they’ve all done terribly.”
(Image: Channel 4)
@funkygibbons said: “This is what bake off should be, real amateur bakers who can’t bake for s**t and produce nothing but ungodly messes that Prue and Paul have to eat” while @HanMckibz declared: “Most hilarious technical ever.”
@tracydavidson27 said: “Home Economics was my worst subject at school, but even I never produced anything as revolting looking as those steamed puddings! Must be the worst technical challenge ever. Has almost put me off desserts. Almost.”
@beanies_masato said: “If you want them to bake proper puddings don’t give them 90 minutes to do it? I’m actually a bit annoyed about this” and @xmastime1234 said: “If they all did bad, then maybe give them more time.”
@amy_x01x_ pointed out: “Maybe the bakers didn’t get given enough time if 90% of them are liquid Paul and Prue” and @BAB00SHKA_1 said: “If quite literally every baker in the tent is serving up an underbaked cake for the technical then maybe they need… I don’t know more time maybe?”
@littlemissranty said: “You let Pru down, you let me down, you let yourselves down…” No, mate, just admit that you should’ve given them more time. This was on the organisers, not the candidates” and @Chxngbin00 said: “As a teacher… If everyone fails the test… YOU are the problem, Paul.”
@hcb2609 made the same comparison, saying: “Bake-Off/teaching parallel – when your whole class bombs so badly that you have to stand back and wonder if the assessment you created was actually passable?”
The episode also saw the bakers making crème caramel and a “meringue bomb” with a dessert inside. Dan was named Star Baker, while Saku was sent home. Next week’s quarter-final will see the remaining bakers taking on Party Week.
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