The Great British Bake Off rose like a perfectly made madeira cake in the ratings after almost 9.3 million viewers in the UK tuned in for the first episode of the new season.
Twelve new bakers donned their aprons and headed for the iconic tent in the heart of the British countryside amid a hail of innuendo (small nuts, cracks etc etc)
Last night's opener gave viewers plenty to droll over after the intiial cake challenges (classic Madeira and Mary's Frosted Walnut cake thank you very much!) and there was a nice dollop of drama in the showstopper challenge after one contestant produced a Black Forest Gateau catastrophe when her cake failed to set and collapse. Cue the mother of all soggy bottoms!
Dorret Conway, a 53-year-old accountant, saw her creation collapse after she fell behind on her timings, the mousse didn't set and the gateaux slopped out of its tin, leaving her just as sad-looking and in tears.
"There’s no need to get upset,” said host Sue Perkins. "It doesn’t mean you’re going to go home."
Dorret's dream bake turns into a NIGHTMARE! AAAAAARRRGGHHH #GBBO pic.twitter.com/sX7Bz70qrm
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) August 5, 2015
Poor old Dorret had to fight back the tears after her Black Forest ended up looking like a big chocolate mess but at least it didn't taste of beetroot! Somehow Stu - this year's non-traditionalist Hipster - tried to dazzle the judge's with a Black Forest Gateau infused with the root vegetable.
It was an innovation too far for Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood and Stuart Henshall became the first contestant to be sent packing. Not even the flavour from Mat's Gin and Tonic Madeira cake could disguise the flavour of this one!
Stu's beetroot Black Forest Gateau sank his chances on the show
Afterwards Stu was unrepentant and said: "In the future I will make Black Forest gateau my way, in the show I covered it in Italian meringue and I put beetroot in it.
"Maybe I should have made it in more a traditional way for Mary. She is awesome and I have followed her recipes for years and Paul's but hey, I'm not that traditional myself."
The judges have created 30 new challenges that will test the baking prowess, creativity and skills of the remaining contestants throughout the series and next week it's....biscuits. Time for a cuppa.
The Great British Bake Off, Wednesdays 8.00pm, BBC One
