The Great British Bake Off 2018: Bread Week - Hollywood goes soft and who's that picking their nose?

As is traditional at this stage of the contest, it was Bread Week in the rolling grounds of Berkshire’s Welford Park. But who would use their loaf and who would be toast? Here’s all the talking points from episode three…

Banker Anthony makes a withdrawal 

“No wonder we’ve had a banking crisis,” quipped Sandi Toksvig about Anthony Amourdoux’s bad maths. This proceeded to become a proper Black Tuesday for the 30-year-old City banker. 

His Decadent Breakfast Chelsea Buns with boozy caramel sauce sounded mouthwatering but were over-baked, tough and so lacking in moisture that the judges used the word “dry” half-a-dozen times. He struggled in the technical, despite naan bread appearing be right up his cultural street. “Indian food has never felt so stressful,” he confessed, coming eighth out of 10.

Anthony desperately needed a skin-saving showstopper but it didn’t materialise. He ran out of time to fully decorate his Chocolate & Orange Adventure Korovai, which was under-proved, over-baked and stodgy. Even two lovebirds descending on zipwires couldn’t rescue it. Briony Williams was also in trouble but she had more credit in the baking bank and Anthony had to go.

He joins Imelda McCarron and Luke Thompson on the scrapheap located around the back of the marquee. Bye bye, self-styled “Bollywood baker”. We rather liked your dapper style and broad smile.

Rahul was crowned Star Baker again

He sighed, huffed, puffed and said he felt sick. He’s the most stressed-out and self-effacing baker in the tent but Rotherham research scientist Rahul Mandal is rapidly emerging a potential Bake Off champion. After last week’s Cake Week cakewalk, he secured his second consecutive Star Baker crown.

Despite his shaky hands and mumbled apologies, Rahul’s Mango & Cranberry Chelsea Buns looked messy but were baked to perfection. He came a solid fourth out of 10 in the technical. His Garden Wedding Korovai showstopper involved 200 pieces of detailed decoration, including flowers, garlands and swans. It not only looked downright incredible but was well-textured and tasted delicious. “You’re a little genius, Rahul,” said Paul Hollywood approvingly, if a tad patronisingly. 

Gay dad Dan Beasley-Harding ran him close after getting a Hollywood handshakes for his “annoyingly perfect” Chelsea Buns but Rahul thoroughly deserved his second “SB” award on the trot. 

However, is he the new Richard Burr or Stephen Carter-Bailey? Those two set the early pace in their respective series, winning several Star Baker prizes in the process, but both ended up being surprisingly beaten in the final. An omen for Rahul? We can almost hear him sighing from here. 

Bread Week sees Hollywood go soft

Master baker Paul Hollywood is always in his element during Bread Week, what with the crusty, carby stuff being his speciality. He played his usual mind games: prowling around the tent like Paul Jagger’s bread lion from series six, lurking intimidatingly behind the bakers and giving their work an inscrutable hard stare with those laser-like blue eyes. 

Maybe he’s getting soppy in his old age but when it came to judging, Hollywood seemed more impressed and less pernickety this year - even giving out one of his coveted handshakes. Crumbs. Is he becoming less Craig Revel Horwood and more Bruno Tonioli?

Briony has a 'little hand' but a huge heart

Bjork/Anna Maxwell-Martin/Michael McIntyre lookalike Briony Williams (delete according to preference) has been one of the early stars of this series, with her delicious biscuits, ready giggle and tendency to blub at the drop of a chef’s hat.

It was only during this episode, though, that most viewers noticed her disability: a deformity of the left hand which means she’s missing several fingers. Kudos to both Briony and Channel 4 for not turning it into a sob story, instead letting her ability speak for itself. Now we see why publicity material referred to her “determination never to let anything defeat her”. Briony herself calls it her “little hand”.

After a strong start, nearly winning Star Baker in the opening episode, the Bristolian brunette had her second consecutive shaky week. Let’s hope she bounces back because her departure would be a big loss to the tent. 

Surprise winner of style wars

There was only one choice to win this week’s flour-dusted fashion face-off. Sure, Sandi Toksvig had a natty new bomber jacket and Noel Fielding was buzzy in his yellow-and-black striped bumblebee jumper. Yes, Prue Leith was resplendent in a long drapey monochrome number. 

However, sneaking in from leftfield came this year’s oldest baker Karen Wright, sporting a red beret and matching specs, teamed with a mannish tie. Bravo for the boldest sartorial choice of the series so far. Altogether now: “She wore a raspberry beret…”

Ruby keeps leaving it late

Friends, family and fans of baker Ruby Bhogal must be living on their nerves, because she keeps flirting with the elimination zone before saving her skin with a spectacular last-gasp showstopper. 

Day one was another disaster. She didn’t use enough sugar in her Chelsea Buns, meaning they lacked the requisite stickiness, and came seventh in the technical. Day two, though, saw Ruby rise from the flames once again. 

Her Mama & Papa’s Belated Wedding Korovai was covered in plaited hearts and cute bunting. “Perfection,” said Hollywood. “The bake is to be applauded. That is absolutely stunning.” Ruby has the potential to go far but needs to start delivering in the first two rounds as well.

Bakers do innuendo and nose-picking

The in-tent double entendre quota has dropped due to Mel ’n' Sue being replaced by the less “oo-er, missus’ Noel ’n’ Sandi. This week, though, the bakers themselves picked up the crusty white baton, with French contestant Manon Lagreve asking “Do you want to see my buns?” 

But was it just me who spotted Manon slyly picking her nose as the bakers waited on high stools for the technical verdict? Très grossier.

Terry’s all gold

“This could be my week,” said twirly-‘tached Terry, who desperately needed to hit form after coming close to elimination in the first two episodes. He duly did so. Paul Hollywood said Terry’s Tangy Citrus Chelsea Buns “look like the ones I make” (compliments come no higher) and he won the Garlic Naan Bread technical. 

Typically, El Tel then had a shonky showstopper, which serves him right for ostentatiously using terracotta baking cloches, but this was the first week when he wasn’t - apologies in advance - Terry-ble.

Meringues and moulds next week

It’s Dessert Week next Tuesday, so grab a spoon, don your elasticated trousers and see you back here for a tasting session.