The Great British Bake Off saw its second contestant leave the tent during an intense biscuit week on Tuesday.
During the episode the contestants took on three biscuit-based tasks including slice and bake biscuits for the signature challenge, chocolate hobnobs for the technical, and a biscuit showstopper.
Sadly, Leighton failed to impress, even with his piano-shaped biscuit creation and was sent home by the judges in an emotional exit.
But it wasn’t all bad news as one baker received a coveted Paul Hollywood handshake, with Tom being crowned Star Baker.
Speaking after his exit, Leighton said: ‘I have had the most fun on Bake Off – I have loved it! I mean I have had the opportunity and then I come up against these amazing bakers.
‘I felt really sad when Noel said I was going home. In that moment, it felt like I’d let myself down.’
The Great British Bake Off saw its second contestant leave the tent during an intense biscuit week on Tuesday
During the episode the contestants took on three biscuit-based tasks – but Leighton failed to impress
He added: ‘I was so ecstatic just to make it into the tent, and I’m incredibly proud of myself for doing something so far outside my comfort zone.
‘But I couldn’t help feeling like I hadn’t quite got going – I was really looking forward to pastry and bread weeks, and it was tough knowing I wouldn’t get the chance to show what I could do.
‘That said, the other bakers were amazing. They rallied around me with hugs, kind words, and so much support.
‘It reminded me that Bake Off isn’t just about the bakes – it’s about the people, the friendships, and the shared experience.
‘I may have left the tent, but I gained a whole new baking family.’
Leighton later added: ‘My best moment in the tent was when Paul actually liked my orange slice-and-bake biscuit.
‘I was completely surprised and absolutely thrilled. It’s not every day you get a nod from Paul Hollywood, so I’ll be holding onto that one!
‘My worst moment? Without a doubt, the chocolate hobnob biscuits. They were a disaster.’
But it wasn’t all bad news as one baker received a coveted Paul Hollywood handshake, with Tom being crowned Star Baker
Speaking after his exit, Leighton said: ‘I have had the most fun on Bake Off – I have loved it! I mean I have had the opportunity and then I come up against these amazing bakers’
He added: ‘That said, the other bakers were amazing. They rallied around me with hugs, kind words, and so much support. It reminded me that Bake Off isn’t just about the bakes’
He concluded: ‘My feathering looked more like concrete paving slabs than delicate decoration. I knew it wasn’t my finest hour.’
Last week’s instalment saw the contestants bake Swiss rolls, fondant fancies and an illusion cake.
While Natalia impressed Prue and Paul and was named star baker, it was Hassan who didn’t do enough to stay in the competition.
Hassan said of his fellow co-stars: ‘Everyone is such a phenomenal baker, they are all such lovely people.
‘Even though it’s been a short-lived experience, I have enjoyed it. Hopefully I can reflect on some things and then maybe get back to baking when I get a chance.’
Some fans brutally branded the show ‘cringe, nonsense-ridden and a waste of time’ just minutes into the latest premiere.
Although many were over the moon that GBBO was back, there were plenty of things that viewers weren’t happy about.
The episode got off to a bad start with its opening Jurassic Park-themed sketch.
Prue, Alison and Noel drove into ‘Jurassic Bake’ and funnyman Noel asked: ‘Why is Prue dressed as Colonel Sanders?’
Last week’s instalment saw the contestants bake Swiss rolls, fondant fancies and an illusion cake
But the episode got off to a bad start with its opening Jurassic Park themed sketch
A dinosaur ended up eating Noel in the opening scene which left fans less than impressed
Wearing a white beard and circular glasses, Prue said: ‘I have finally achieved my lifetime ambition of cloning a dinosaur with human DNA…’
Moments later the ground started to shake and she said: ‘Oh no! He’s escaped. Tyranno-Paul-rus Rex.’
It ended with the dinosaur eating Noel – and viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to complain about it.
‘What the fudge was that pathetic opening of Great British Bake Off… Thought I’d gone back to cheesy 80’s kids telly… Hope the show’s better than the intro…
‘#GBBO I’m very excited for this year’s bake off. But what the fudge was that opening sketch! I was cringing for them. Please stick to presenting and judging.’
‘Opening was awful and strange, not sure who came up with that!’
‘Not a fan of the intro, found it cringe. Just get on with the baking’; ‘#GBBO Stick to the baking guys. That beginning was excruciatingly cringe.’
