WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

THE new series of the Great British Bake Off kicked off with Cake Week for the latest batch of 12 bakers.

The bakers had to tackle a signature of making 12 identical mini-sandwich cakes, a technical of baking a red velvet cake and a 3D replica of a special place they have lived showstopper for their three challenges. Will went and Janusz was voted star baker.

Here is Sandy Docherty’s verdict of week one’s episode, as she continues her weekly Telegraph & Argus column which will be online each Wednesday morning while the 10-week series is on.

 

Sandy took part in the 2015 series and is the child protection and welfare officer at Titus Salt School in Baildon.

On Cake Week, Sandy says: “It was a funny start, it did not blow me away.

“On reflection, I felt it had gone back to its essence; ordinary people baking.

“It has got a really good cross-section of the ordinary public.

“Nobody is leaping out as using the show as a stepping stone for the red carpet.

“It had a softer, gentler start. This is the general public again. It celebrates the extraordinariness of ordinariness.

 

“Nobody is leaping out as a favourite.

“Janusz is somebody I would invite around for a glass of wine. Carole is a character, I’m going to enjoy watching her.

 

“All of them are people you could sit and get to know.

“Cake week as week one is quite gentle. Everyone thinks they can do a cake. Cake baking is the real leveller.

“If you can don a good cake, everything else is a great add-on.

“In week one, nerves are up and you are heightened. You are wanting to please.

“For the challenges, so many of them stayed within the traditional flavours. It was nice to see.

“The technical challenge of making a red velvet cake was not just about making a cake and dying it red. Paul Hollywood looked for the height of the cakes and they all delivered.

“People are struggling with things at the moment and Bake Off feels warm and comfortable.”

 

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