The latest star to be eliminated from The Great British Bake Off has been announced, with the amateur baker admitting that they’re ‘gutted’ to be going home.
On the latest episode of the Channel 4 competition, the remaining contestants in the tent were tasked with taking on the gargantuan challenge of Chocolate Week.
Over the years, Chocolate Week has frequently been regarded as one of the most cursed weeks on the show, as the bakers often have to contend with high summer temperatures.
Thankfully, the sun wasn’t beating too hard this time around – but Nadia Mercuri, 41, was still unfortunately left struggling, resulting in her becoming the fifth person to depart.
For the signature, judges Dame Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood had the competitors make ornate chocolate mousse cups, followed by a white chocolate tart for their technical challenge.
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The technical made a major change for the first time ever, allowing the bakers to select their own ingredients from the gingham pantry so that they could put their own unique spin on their bake. However, they had to use any ingredients that they chose.
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Then for the showstopper, the bakers were instructed to make a highly decorated, themed chocolate centrepiece, complete with an edible dipping part that could house a chocolate sauce and a baked element.
Nadia’s white chocolate and strawberry mousse chocolate cups didn’t go fully to plan, with Dame Prue labelling them ‘messy’ and Paul saying that they were ‘a little bit all over the place’.
The hairdresser from Liverpool came last in the technical, after Paul criticised the texture and colours of her white chocolate tart, also emphasising that the pastry was too thick.
Nadia received praise for her showstopper, with the judges complimenting her chocolate tempering skills and her chocolate and almond biscuits, but they also pointed out some unfortunate sogginess in the bake.
Sadly, totalling up all three challenges, it was Nadia’s time to leave the tent.
What do you think is the hardest Bake Off week?
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Cake week
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Biscuit week
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Bread week
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Caramel week
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Pastry week
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Dessert week
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Patisserie week
‘I was fine about leaving in week five. I was fine because I knew it was my week to go and I’d missed my kids but I was also gutted too!’ she said after her elimination.
‘I had so many good moments in the tent, and probably my biscuit box showstopper was my best moment and the worst moment for me was the week I left.’
Reflecting on her time in the tent, she added: ‘I loved my fellow bakers because they were so helpful and genuine.
‘I’ve learned so much and challenged myself – going into Bake Off will be the best thing I’ve ever done! And I would absolutely encourage other home bakers to apply for the next series.’
Nadia added that while she doesn’t know what’s next in store for her in the baking world, she definitely won’t be putting her spatula away any time soon, and would love to explore more baking on TV in the future.
The Great British Bake Off airs on Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 4.
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