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Humps, salty pastries and Noel's best shirt yet: GBBO semi-final

Updated / Wednesday, 24 Oct 2018 10:12
Humps, salty pastries and Noel's best shirt yet
Humps, salty pastries and Noel's best shirt yet

After romping through nine weeks of wholesome baking content and some of the best entertainment the UK can offer, The Great British Bake Off is now at the stage when everyone becomes more weepy than usual - and that's saying something. Yep, it's the semi-final. 

Ruby, Rahul, Briony and Kim-Joy braved the tent once again for what is always a stressful, emotional and bittersweet episode as they battle it out to claim one of the three coveted spots in next week's final. With Patisserie as the theme, it was sure to be as difficult as those cakes are delicate. 

But before we get to the baking, let's take a moment to reflect on Noel's psychedelic sartorial statement, which was a true treat for the senses. 

The first challenge of the semi saw the bakers make their own signature Madeleines, with emphasis being placed on achieving the perfect "hump" in their delicate pastries. Not so delicate, however, were the amount of hump puns, which left Rahul scatching his head. 

Next, the bakers were landed with the longest technical challenge ever, clocking in three and a half hours at their stoves as they attempted to make Torta Setteveli, a cake with seven different layers that translates as "the cake of seven veils". Although each baker struggled with different layers, Rahul came last in the challenge, further upending the belief that he was a shoe-in for a win. 

Finally, their monumental Showstopper challenge had them whip up a pastry confection worthy of gracing the gilded windows of a Ladurée shop in Paris in just five hours.

While Paul criticised Rahul's baking as "boring", it was Briony who made one of the more grievous mistakes in the series - confusing her sugar with her salt. Though she owned up to it instantly, there was little to be done once it was in the bakes... 

In the end, Ruby again came out on top as Star Baker, sending her odds of winning the competition skyrocketing given next week is the final. 

Sadly, Briony had to go home, with Sandi tasked with making the tearful announcement. Describing her as a "force of nature", the tearful pair hugged and hearts across the world crumbled like shortbread in tea.

Next week will see Ruby, Rahul and Kim-Joy take to the tent for one last time in an effort to win The Great British Bake Off. What will we do with our Tuesdays then? 

GBBO Twitter is one of the best parts of each week, and this week you didn't disappoint... 

Just Noel things

Auspicious autocorrect

Can this be the new wellness trend?

Less emotionally invested

 It's time

Log this for next season

Same

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