• Navigation icon for News

    News

    • US Food
    • UK Food
    • Drinks
    • Celebrity
    • Restaurants and bars
    • TV and Film
    • Social Media
  • Navigation icon for Cooking

    Cooking

    • Recipes
    • Air fryer
  • Navigation icon for Health

    Health

    • Diet
    • Vegan
  • Navigation icon for Fast Food

    Fast Food

    • McDonalds
    • Starbucks
    • Burger King
    • Subway
    • Dominos
  • Facebook
    Instagram
    YouTube
    TikTok
    X
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
X
Submit Your Content
'Bake Off first' leaves fans divided after 'unfair' twist

Home> News> TV and Film

Updated 09:13 1 Oct 2025 GMT+1Published 08:58 1 Oct 2025 GMT+1

'Bake Off first' leaves fans divided after 'unfair' twist

The major twist didn't go down too well with some viewers

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Great British Bake Off fans have had a lot to say about the latest episode, which saw the bakers knocking up a spectacular fondue display Showstopper for Chocolate Week in the tent.

The episode also kicked off with chocolate mousse cups for the Signature challenge, prompting many people to immediately pick up on one thing.

Noticing something was off, one wrote on X: "Chocolate week without a heatwave?! Simply unheard of #gbbo."

Another joked: "I'm sorry but it's Chocolate Week and there is no heatwave, this will never do."

Chocolate Week is known to prove particularly tricky, given that the show is usually filmed between April and June - just when the British weather likes to start heating up.

Advert

This week, however, looked relatively tame - although that's not to say it wasn't without its dramas.

The main talking point of the episode proved to be the notorious Technical challenged, famed for really testing contestants' skills with complex bakes set by judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.

This time, however, there was a major twist as Paul and Prue unveiled a 'gingham pantry' stocked with various ingredients.

Rather than asking them to create uniform white chocolate tarts, with bakes usually required to be as close to Paul or Prue's spec as possible, everyone was given full 'artistic license' to essentially do whatever they wanted, marking a Bake Off first for the Technical.

Advert

Behold, the gingham pantry (Channel 4)
Behold, the gingham pantry (Channel 4)

"Choose wisely," Paul warned.

The pantry had been cleverly stocked with every imaginable combination under the sun, and while bakers were encouraged to get creative, they had to ensure the white chocolate flavour did not get lost among all the other bells and whistles.

The unexpected turn of events didn't go down too well with some viewers, who didn't agree with the nature of the task.

Advert

"The whole point of the technical is they’re meant to all bake the same thing so why are they letting them choose their own ingredients and to their own recipe??? #GBBO," one fan commented, adding: "It’s just a weird thing to do this far in!"

Some fared better than others (Channel 4)
Some fared better than others (Channel 4)

Another agreed: "I reaaaally don’t like that technical challenge twist if they’re baking something to be judged blind, they need to all be the same!! it doesn’t make any sense for them to all be different."

A third said: "This is a tough technical. I’m not keen because if they all make the same flavour, it is fairer to judge to put them in an order. #GBBO."

Advert

One fan said it just felt like a 'Signature with extra steps', while a fifth fumed: "#gbbo that's not a technical!!! That's a f**king ranked signature !!! Don't p**s me off."

(Channel 4)
(Channel 4)

Other viewers, meanwhile, enjoyed producers shaking things up a little with the surprise Bake Off first.

"Ooooo I like this technical. Bring the gingham pantry back in every episode #GBBO," one begged.

Advert

Another felt it gave 'another level' to the task, with a third writing: "An entire pantry is available for this technical?! Its quite exciting but also nerve-wracking because you dont want to lose the chocolate flavour! #GBBO."

Another quipped: "The gingham pantry is chaotic….I love it #gbbo."

Featured Image Credit: Channel 4

Topics: TV and Film

Jess Hardiman
Jess Hardiman

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
  • Netflix
    a day ago

    Meghan Markle leaves people divided over 'insane' price of new chocolate bars

    The Duchess of Sussex's new As Ever chocolate has divided people with their opinions

    News
  • Rafael Elias/Getty Images
    a day ago

    Calls for change to 'low alcohol' labels amid major confusion over one thing

    There's a distinction with the drinks which is very important for one group of people

    News
  • Instagram/@kallosmcr
    a day ago

    22 UK restaurants have just been added to the Michelin Guide

    Five of the restaurants are in London

    News
  • BBC
    a day ago

    John Torode reveals he is in therapy after MasterChef sacking

    Torode was fired from the BBC show after being accused of saying a racist remark

    News
  • Meghan Markle leaves people divided over 'insane' price of new chocolate bars
  • Great British Bake Off will make history with tonight's final
  • Gordon Ramsay leaves fans divided over 'toxic' stance on 'rude' restaurant habit
  • Paul Hollywood hits back at Bake Off star's savage criticism over 'hypocrisy' of show