The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 5 Recap: Andy in Tears After Dropping His Toffee Podium

The fifth episode of series 15 of The Great British Bake Off aired on October 22, 2024, featuring eight enthusiastic amateur bakers aiming for the title of champion baker. Unfortunately, one contestant faced elimination by the end of the episode after their showstopper attempt crumbled into a disaster.

Mike said his goodbyes during the fourth week, a period filled with challenges centered on Caramel Week. In the signature bake challenge, the participants were tasked with creating caramel biscuits, followed by a technical challenge involving pear tart tatin.

The final and most crucial challenge was the showstopper, where bakers crafted mousse cakes, which ultimately determined who would be sent home.

Alison Hammond made her return to The Great British Bake Off for a second consecutive year, co-hosting alongside Noel Fielding. Meanwhile, the much-loved judges, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, continued to lend their expert insights and critique the contestants’ creations.

Highlights from The Great British Bake Off series 15, episode 5

As Pastry Week commenced, Alison and Noel guided the bakers in preparing 12 frangipane tarts, allowing them the option to invent new flavors or stick to traditional recipes.

For their frangipane creations, contestants were challenged to blend flavors and textures, ensuring that the outer crust was both buttery and flaky, while the inside featured a delicately smooth almond filling. With just two hours allocated, the bakers rushed to make a strong start to the week. Gill and Andy dedicated their efforts to family recipes passed down through generations.

Georgie opted for a classic approach, crafting a raspberry and almond frangipane tart. Nelly added a fresh twist by using blood oranges for her iceberg frangipane tarts, crowned with Italian meringue. Meanwhile, Dylan chose a bold flavor profile, incorporating coffee and chocolate as his primary ingredients for The Great British Bake Off.

Illiyin introduced a tropical flair to her bake, creating a coconut frangipane adorned with a passion fruit dome. During the process, she faced a moment of panic when Dylan pointed out that her pastry was falling apart. Feeling defeated, Illiyin exclaimed she felt like she was “going home,”but she swiftly regrouped to prepare a second batch.

After judging, the panel noted that Andy had overbaked his pastry, while Illiyin’s dessert was a touch soggy. This led to the technical challenge set by Paul Hollywood, heralded as the “prince of pastry,”where contestants were advised on the importance of allowing their bakes to rest.

For the technical challenge, bakers were tasked with making a variation of the Greek pie, spanakopita. Dylan won high praise from the judges, who heralded his pie for its perfect moisture levels and particularly lauded its spinach filling. Subsequently, bakers assembled one final time that week to tackle the showstopper challenge.

In the showstopper challenge of The Great British Bake Off, contestants were instructed to whip up Paris-Brest and create a freestanding pastry podium. Here are their unique creations:

Illiyin presented her ‘Crown of Nuttiness’ Paris-Brest
Gill crafted Lemon & Thyme Meringue Paris-Brest
Christiaan offered an Orange & Pecan Paris-Brest
Nelly showcased her Pistachio Paris-Brest
Sumayah made the ‘Tree of Life’ Paris-Brest
Georgie created Pistachio & Raspberry Paris-Brest
Dylan designed ‘Contrasts of Tea’ Paris-Brest
Andy brought forth ‘All You Need Is Love’ Paris-Brest

Some bakers drew inspiration from renowned landmarks, building elaborate pastry towers, while others shared personal stories through their podium designs. During this phase of the challenge, Andy accidentally broke his stand while attempting to place it, which significantly influenced the judges’ elimination decision. Ultimately, Andy was sent home, while Gill earned the title of star baker.

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