After a Great British Bake Off contestant fell ill and skipped out on the first episode of the new season, there was a big twist during the elimination.
The beloved baking series first premiered in 2010 and quickly picked up a loyal audience, who have been entertained by naughty innuendos, soggy bottoms, and ridiculously difficult challenges over the years.
It returned to Channel 4 on Tuesday night with the 15th season to see the next group of amateur bakers competing to be crowned champion.
They vyed to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith with the support of presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond across the Signature Bake, Technical Challenge and Showstopper.
However, one of the 12 contestants, 67-year-old Jeff, didn’t get a chance to show off their skills from the start and was missing from tonight’s tent.
In the episode, Alison revealed to the other bakers that one contestant is feeling unwell and they are missing the rest of the premiere so only 11 bakers were competing to avoid elimination (and snatch a chance at star baker). Or so they thought….
In a shock twist at the end of the episode no-one was eliminated, much to the entire tent’s relief, with Prue revealing it was due to Jeff’s absence.
Although Noel confirmed that this meant two contestants could go at once at some point in the future.
Jeff is a former university lecturer who arrived in the UK in 1979 from New York and is renowned for his cheesecake.
The premiere episode also saw another baker get the ‘Hollywood handshake’ after impressing judge Paul in the signature challenge.
At another point, fans were in fits after one of the bakers called their creating ‘Fanny the chicken’ which led to many innuendo-filled jokes.
Among the bakers for 2024 are a palliative care nurse, a student on her gap year and a dad who moved to Yorkshire in the 80s after growing up in the Bronx.
Long-time host Noel, who joined the show in 2017, recently shared some hilarious behind-the-scenes ancedotes from this season.
‘I’ll never be able to unsee it. What I love about Alison – and I mean this with the greatest of respect – is that she’s an absolute klutz. If anyone’s going to fall out of a hammock, it’ll be her. She also fell backwards off one of the workbenches while showing off. Don’t worry, she was OK. No Hammonds were harmed in the making of this series,’ he said when speaking to The Guardian.
The presenter and comedian also said this season was a ‘belter’.
‘There are some very special bakers in the tent this year. Somehow the standard keeps getting higher. These unbelievable young bakers are way better than they should be for their age. It’s a vintage year. One of the best yet.’
Hot Property Picks from Metro
Londoners upset as spot that was 'amazing in the 90s' to be replaced
The world's 'loneliest' house is so lonely that no one has ever lived there
Dusty hole in a UK field sells for £36,000
What I Rent: I'm a YouTube star paying £3,000 per month for my Tottenham 2-bed
We live in a £69,000 tiny home — but it's not as cheap as it looks
The Great British Bake Off airs on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Inside Bake Off star Noel Fielding’s private life with famous girlfriend and kids
MORE : Great British Bake Off launches tonight – but you’d never know
MORE : The Great British Bake Off viewers fear ‘shedding tears’ after 2024 line-up announced
Share this with