One of the stars of The Great British Bake Off was so overcome with emotion when his bagels went awry that he had to leave the tent in an upsetting moment.
During last night’s episode, the remaining bakers taking part in the 2024 competition on Channel 4 were tasked with showing off their bread-making skills, under the close eye of bread expert Paul Hollywood and fellow judge Dame Prue Leith.
First, they had to make savoury buns for their signature, followed by a plaited loaf for the technical and then a bread cornucopia display for their eagerly-anticipated showstopper.
After coming second to last in the technical, John Mincher, 37, had to pull out all of the stops to try and impress the judges and save himself from being eliminated.
However, he found himself in a tough situation when the bagels he was making for his cornucopia weren’t floating to the surface of the boiling water, as they should.
As host Alison Hammond came over to console him, she said soothingly: ‘Please don’t get upset.’
‘Don’t make me cry,’ John said, choking up as Alison, 49, pulled him in for a hug, telling him: ‘Don’t get upset, please. Don’t get upset babe.’
The This Morning presenter gave the baker more words of comfort as they hugged, before assuring him that ‘it’s just bread’.
She then planted a kiss on his cheek, telling him that she ‘just wanted to hug’ him as he continued to look incredibly devastated by his culinary mishap.
‘Can I have a minute?’ he said, as then took a step out of the tent to get some fresh air.
The other bakers looked concerned for their fellow contestant, with one of them saying: ‘Aw John,’ and another stating: ‘Aw that breaks my heart now.’
In the end, John’s bagel blunder contributed to the decision for him to be eliminated from this year’s series of Bake Off, while Dylan Bachelet, 20, was crowned the new star baker for Bread Week.
In his farewell letter, the directorate support manager expressed how grateful he was to have been on Bake Off after being a ‘fanboy for 14 years’.
‘It has truly been an honour and the most amazing experience of my life. I wouldn’t change a single thing… well, I might change it so at least 1 of the bagels floats! Ah well, we love the dramz don’t we bab!’ he wrote.
‘I thought I would make new friends but I have actually made a Bake Off family who I will always treasure!’
Several fans shared how disappointed they were that John had been sent home, with Julie tweeting: ‘Absolutely had to be John who left, but gutted as he was such a lovely lovely man.’
Peter added: ‘Aww not John! Didn’t want him to go! 😞I really like all the bakers this time though! They’re a great bunch!’
The Great British Bake Off returns on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.
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