Radlett baker survives another week on Great British Bake Off

Bake-Off star Stacey Hart from Radlett got creative with bread as Tuesday night saw the third week of this year’s contestants of the popular baking competition get creative with bread; preparing a variety of different styles to be sampled by returning judge Paul Hollywood and new judge Prue Leith. In the signature challenge the ten remaining bakers were required to make 12 round, identical teacakes with enriched dough and evenly distributed fruit. Stacey Hart from Radlett’s signature cranberry and cinnamon teacakes were described as decent by the judges, though they criticised the choice of milk she used in an attempt to make them “nice and soft.” Her cottage loaf was judged as the best of the bunch. Her show stopper, an “ascot hat” sculpture made of challah with turmeric and lemon received mixed results from the judges, though Stacey made it through to the fourth week. Steven Carter-Bailey from Watford sought to maintain his winning streak after being crowned Star Baker twice in the previous weeks. Despite his initial confidence about his set of madras cocktail teacakes, Paul Hollywood claimed it was not Steven’s “finest hour”. Fortunately, his creation during the technical challenge, which was to create a cottage loaf, was ranked third-best by Paul and Prue, and his showstopper creation, a “handbag” sculpture made of a Manchego, chorizo and sherry bread received praise from Paul. The latter two breads redeeming him from the first, Steven also made it through to the fourth week – but without his Star Baker crown. The end of this week’s Bake-Off saw Flo Atkins from Merseyside eliminated and Julia Chernogorova from West Sussex dethroning Steven and crowned as the Star Baker. Photo credit: Mark Bourdillon for Love Productions/Channel 4