“Pure Adrenaline Rush” — Illiyin Morrison of The Great British Bake Off Shares Experience of Fainting on Set

Season 15 of the highly anticipated series The Great British Bake Off premiered on September 24. In episode 2, which aired a week later on October 1, one contestant exited the competition due to health issues, while two others experienced alarming incidents.

Jeff, a university lecturer, decided to leave the show in episode 2 as the rigorous demands of the competition were detrimental to his deteriorating health. Meanwhile, 31-year-old midwife Illiyin Morris also faced overwhelming pressure, collapsing on set and later being placed in a recovery position by medics after feeling dizzy. On October 3, Illiyin shared her experience on Instagram:

“I was running on pure adrenaline during that challenge. I hadn’t eaten since the day before (strange eating habits) and despite production reminding me to drink, I was immersed in puppet theatre engineering.”

The third contestant who experienced a fall was Dylan. Continue reading to discover more about episode 2 and Illiyin’s reflections on Instagram.

“I did what I could”— Illiyin Morrison recounts her fainting incident on The Great British Bake Off Season 15

Illiyin Morrison, a midwife specializing in birth trauma, fainted in the iconic Bake Off tent shortly after completing her biscuit puppet theater for the episode’s challenge.

Her creation, titled Strawberry Fields Forever, was inspired by the first date she shared with her husband. After she fainted, host Noel Fielding took the initiative to present her dessert to the judges on her behalf.

The 31-year-old resident of Norfolk took to Instagram to elaborate on her experience.

“Artistic engineering is a madness to me. Especially with biscuit. It has never been something I’m good at but one thing about me is I’m not a quitter. I finished the bake and I did what I could and I was judged for it and I’m glad,”Illiyin shared.

Illiyin explained that she was fueled by adrenaline because she hadn’t eaten the day before. The moment the challenge concluded, she felt a wave of relief, which led to her collapse. She noted that it was an unprecedented experience for her.

Illiyin expressed feeling a “sense of deep shame”from fainting on national television, but as someone who assists others in overcoming shame, she recognized the need for time to process the event. In her post, she expressed gratitude to various individuals associated with the production who supported her during her fall.

Health Scares of Two Other Contestants on The Great British Bake Off Season 15

Following judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood’s evaluations of the contestants’ creations, another participant, Dylan, collapsed while seated. Initially, it appeared to be another fainting incident, but Dylan later clarified that he fell while reaching for a water bottle.

The 20-year-old’s fall, coupled with Illiyin’s collapse, prompted a surprised exclamation from Judge Paul:

“What the hell is going on?”

In the meantime, Essex contestant Andy commented on the alarming series of health incidents, saying they were “dropping like flies.”

Illiyin and Dylan’s incidents followed Jeff’s exit from the competition. Jeff, who had been unwell since episode 1, announced his departure in episode 2, indicating he had reached his limit after feeling ill for two consecutive weeks. Presenter Allison Hammond consoled him with the reassurance that he had given it his all.

New episodes of The Great British Bake Off Season 15 are released on Tuesdays at 8 PM on Channel 4.

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