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Privacy NoticeNo-one went home on the first episode of the 2024 season of The Great British Bake Off after former university lecturer Jeff felt unwell in the tent. After facing challenges with a zesty lemon sponge cake, the 67 year old fell ill, postponing his pursuit of the famed baking title until at least episode two. Despite Paul Hollywood pointing out that whilst Jeff’s “flavours are spot on”, the cake “looks such a mess” because of its dishevelled appearance. As a Battenberg cake became the next hurdle for contestants, Jeff was absent from the tent. Alison Hammond filled in viewers, expressing: “Welcome back bakers, as you can see Jeff is not with us at the moment, because he’s not feeling very well, but hopefully he’s going to be back next week.” Meanwhile, star baker accolades were bestowed upon John, an NHS directorate support manager from West Midlands. His black forest gateau garnished with macarons impressed Dame Prue Leith for its “perfect” texture.
John was awarded star baker
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
He also secured a solid fourth in the technical challenge and dazzled during the showstopper with a denim-illusion cake which had Dame Prue describing it as “really amusing” and lauding the coconut sponge by adding his “favours are just amazing”. On a lighter note, Paul had a little banter with host Noel Fielding when he quipped that contestant John could never nab the “star baker” title purely because his eyes were a shade bluer than Hollywood’s own. Triumphing in the technical challenge was Georgie, a paediatric nurse hailing from Carmarthenshire, who received high praise from Hollywood for her impeccable marzipan treat, the classic Battenberg, with him telling her she did “really well”. Meanwhile, Mike, a farm manager from Wiltshire, appeared to be skating on thin ice after finishing last in the technical, but stunningly he managed to win back the judges’ confidence by presenting an impressively realistic stack of book cakes during the showstopper challenge.
The Great British Bake Off 2024 contestants
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
To everyone’s delight, it was then announced that all the bakers would remain in the tent as no eliminations were made in the opening episode. However, Noel warned the bakers that this meant there is a “possibility” of a double eviction in the future. The elimination twist didn’t leave fans impressed, as one said: “I didn’t see that coming? Why has no one left?” Another commented: “That’s not fair! Someone should be leaving?” while a third said: “So now two people have to leave it once?” Some fans thought it was a fair decision though, with one person writing on X: “With Mike taken ill & absent from the remaining cake challenges, it was only fair that no one is eliminated tonight, but that opens up the threat of a double elimination somewhere down the line in the next week or 2. #GBBO.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnNoel FieldingPaul HollywoodPrue LeithAlison HammondThe Great British Bake Off
