Great British Bake Off viewers ‘gutted’ as two fan favourites Rowan and Nicky head home in brutal double elimination after contestants crumble in Pastry Week

Both Nicky and Rowan were sent home from the Great British Bake Off during Tuesday night’s episode in a brutal double elimination. 

The fan favourites sadly bid farewell to the tent after failing to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith during a tough Pastry Week. 

As many of the contestants suffered baking fails, from soggy bottoms to ‘clumsy’ presentation and a shocking accidental drop, Cristy managed to come out on top and was crowned this week’s Star Baker. 

During Pastry Week the Signature challenge saw the contestants make Picnic Pies, while the Technical challenge tasked them with creating a Classic French rough pastry pie. 

Next for the Showstopper the baker’s had to impress with a display of decorative sweet pies, constructed from three seperate pies and made from a rich pastry with different fillings. 

Oh no! Both Nicky and Rowan (pictured) were sent home from the Great British Bake Off during Tuesday night’s episode in a brutal double elimination

Sad day: The fan favourites sadly bid farewell to the tent after failing to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith during a tough Pastry Week

During the episode, the contestants were first tasked with making Picnic Pies, with many struggling to impress the judges with their bakes. 

But while Nicky suffered a nightmare, Cristy earned herself a handshake from Paul Hollywood. 

Next up was the Technical with Dan coming in first place first place, despite getting blood in his pastry, as Nicky fell behind again. 

After a disappointing result in both the tricky Signature and Technical challenge, Nicky was left worried for her place in tent ahead of the Showstopper. 

During the task, Rowan failed to lift his Absolutely Fabulous inspired pie out of the tray and Prue branded his construction ‘clumsy’ with one pie being ‘too solid’ and another ‘too sloppy.’

Saku’s pie also got stuck as she accidentally dropped it all over counter, leaving viewers at home aghast. 

Matt also saw one of his pies collapse as the judges cut into it with Prue adding that the fillings were undercooked, while Dana’s pies left Paul grimacing from the sour taste. 

Meanwhile, Josh impressed with his sunflower-themed creation as he admitted how proud he was of himself. 

Tough critics: During the episode, the contestants were first tasked with making Picnic Pies, with many struggling to impress the judges with their bakes

Success: As many of the contestants suffered baking fails, Cristy (pictured) managed to come out on top and was crowned this week’s Star Baker

Farewell: Fans of the show shared their thoughts on X, with one posting: ‘Oh Nicky & Rowan this is such a sad goodbye. You were both such fun and cheerful spirits’ 

As they discussed this week’s bakes, and made their decision, Prue admitted: ‘I thought Josh’s pies were so awful.’

‘I feel bad for Nicky, she has had a tough week,’ Noel added.  

Announcing that Nicky and  Rowan would be heading home, Paul said: ‘I think Rowan went for that Showstopper and it has been really tough letting people go.’

Fans of the show shared their thoughts on X, with one posting: ‘Oh Nicky & Rowan this is such a sad goodbye. You were both such fun and cheerful spirits on the show. This series won’t feel the same without you both.’

Another wrote: ‘My fav has just gone home from #GBBO crying now,’ while someone else added: ‘Gutted about who’s gone home.’ 

The Great British Bake Off returns on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4. 

GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2023: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?

Tasha 

Age: 27

Occupation: Participation officer

From: Bristol

Bake Off presenters have learnt sign language as the show welcomes its first ever deaf contestant. 

Tasha, 27, is a participation officer from Bristol and will be joining the show with her BSL interpreter, Daryl. 

She said: ‘When I had the Zoom call to tell me I was one of the 12, I cried. Daryl also cried. We were a mess.’ 

Amos 

Age: 43 

Occupation: Deli and grocery manager

From: North London

Amos describes his bakes as a labour of love – his style is colourful and chic with keen attention to detail, and he loves exploring different flavour profiles. 

He compares his baking style to the converted church that he now lives in, calling both his style and home ‘traditional with a modern twist’.

Rowan 

Age: 21

Occupation: University student 

From: West Yorkshire

‘Go big, or go home’ is student Rowan’s motto, and one that he has always applied to his bakes. 

A student of English literature, when he’s not writing up a storm, Rowan is also a keen host, applying his creative eye to his cooking. 

Abbi 

Age: 27

Occupation: Vegetable grower and delivery driver

From: Cumbria

A lover of the great outdoors, she forages for seasonal ingredients and puts her homegrown veg to good use. 

Abbi’s bakes aim to combine comfort and familiarity with a strong nod towards nature, and a feeling of creating something magical – bakes with a touch of fairytale.

Cristy 

Age: 33

Occupation: PA

From: East London

For Cristy, life with four children means that there always seems to be a birthday to bake for and an exciting party to plan. 

She describes her baking style as enchanted and pretty – bakes that conjure up a sense of childhood. 

Dan 

Age: 42

Occupation: Civil engineering resource planner

From: Cheshire

Perfectionist Dan loves a baking challenge and will often find the hardest bake in one of his 300 cook books. 

When he’s not baking, he loves to play football with his two young sons or forage for edible treats in the countryside. 

Dana 

Age: 25

Occupation: Database administrator

From: Essex

She loves a semi-naked cake with neat lines, pretty piping and minimalist decoration; and although she likes to keep her flavours safe, Dana will often incorporate a twist or two, adding in familiar spices associated with her Indian heritage. 

Josh

Age: 27

Occupation: Post-doctoral research associate

From: Leicestershire

Post-doctoral research associate Josh is a chemist by trade and brings his scientist’s precision and keenness to experiment into the kitchen, taking careful notes on each part of the baking process. 

Keith 

Age: 60

Occupation: Chartered accountant

From: Hampshire

Keith has a penchant for apple pies and fairy cakes – which he learned to bake with his mum.

The treats form the baking backdrop to Keith’s childhood, along with his mum’s love for traditional dishes from her home in Malta. 

Matty 

Age: 28

Occupation: PE and science teacher

From: Cambridgeshire

He describes his style as rustic but neat, and his flavour preferences as quite traditional – he particularly loves chocolate, citrus and nuts. 

Once his days in the tent are over, his nex challenge will be to make his own wedding cake.

Nicky 

Age: 52

Occupation: Retired cabin crew and volunteer

From: West Midlands

Her favourite bakes are pastries, but she also loves making  fun birthday cakes for her niece and grandchildren. 

When she’s not baking, Nicky volunteers for a pet-therapy charity along with her dog Bracken and loves to ski, which she has been doing since she was only three years old.

Saku 

Age: 50

Occupation: Intelligence analyst

From: Herefordshire

At her family home in Sri Lanka, Saku didn’t have an oven until she was 18, so she turned to baking only when she moved with her husband to the UK, in 2003. 

Self-taught, she relishes using her homegrown ingredients from her vegetable patch. 

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