THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF: THE EIGHTH BAKER LEAVES THE TENT

10 November 2021

In Tuesday night’s episode of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, Chigs was named Star Baker by Matt for the second time, and it was time up for Lizzie, 28 from Liverpool who was the eighth baker to leave the tent.

 

It was the quarter-finals of The Great British Bake Off and the bakers explored alternative ingredients in Free-From week.  The signature challenged them to bake without dairy, and there was a hearty vegan technical.   Finally they had to make showstopping celebration cakes that were entirely free-from gluten.

 

Noel had to deliver the bad news that it would be Lizzie leaving the tent this week.  On the show Lizzie said:  ‘Do you know what,  I feel really proud of myself, I am really happy I am a quarter finalist and I sound dead Scouse now because I am crying.  It’s such an amazing experience to have met the people that I have met and learned everything.   I am proud and these are happy tears.  I can’t wait to go and walk my dog to be honest!’

 

Last night Lizzie said ‘I won’t forget the word finesse in a hurry as throughout Paul always said I was a bit messy and wanted me to be neater in my presentation.   For my final Showstopper the Judges  said I had exquisite finesse, so I did get there in the end.  He pushed finesse so hard on me and it worked.   And now I have even got a finesse tattoo on my ankle.  

 

Paul said:  ‘It’s really sad to see Lizzie go as she is from my neck of the woods.  She has been up and down over the weeks, but this week she has done really well.  The problem was she came up with an ace, but then everybody else did.’

 

Here Lizzie talks about her experience in the tent and getting to the eighth episode:  ‘My first challenge was an ice cream with almond brittle, and the judges both liked the flavours and textures.  With my vegan sausage rolls for the Technical challenge they thought they were a bit overbaked but had good flavour and lamination.   For my showstopper I wanted to celebrate SEN  [special educational needs] it’s all about being different.   I get a lot of brain fuzz and I wanted to show that in my showstopper.’

 

‘That last showstopper was a gluten free coconut sponge with pineapple jam, and a lime swiss meringue buttercream.  I felt that was the best cake I have ever made in my life, and I walked out of that tent with my head held high.

 

‘I was so pleased to get to where I did, and the bakers that made it to the semi-final truly deserve to be there.  It was so good to get back to Liverpool and see all my family again.  My roots are so deep for Liverpool and I am very proud of the city and love showing people around it.  Maggie and Freya came up recently for the weekend and they said I would be a good tour guide.

 

‘Maggie and I watched the Liverpool Marathon and clapped everyone as they came through at the end.  We got recognised a lot because we were together, and it got quite emotional and Maggie was crying, I was crying and everyone was crying.

 

 

‘What I have learned from Bake Off is that everyone is so different with completely different ideas, visions and methods - and that is what makes baking so special.   Never hold back and just try everything.

 

‘My best moment was just before fliming of episode 5 talking to Freya and Crystelle about how proud we were of ourselves that we were baking in the tent and then it started to sink in knowing you have made friends for life.  Worst hour was making chouxnuts in Pastry Week 6.   My favourite challenge was probably focaccia as it is something my family loves.

 

‘My funniest moment in the tent was when me and Crsytelle were trying to do a tik tok dance before filming - it went wrong and I ended up tripping her up and we were in stiches laughing.

 

‘I have had such lovely messages on social media about SEN, and they have all been so positive with people relating to me.  If it makes them feel good about it and they can identify with someone on television talking about it normally, then I think that is a good thing.

 

‘It was really hard to go back to shift patterns at work where it’s all grey and I had come from this colourful tent baking cakes for two months.   When I was able to tell my co-workers in the factory about being in the tent they were all very supportive, even though it might not be something that they would usually watch.

 

‘It has changed my life, as I now have 11 people that I can talk to each other about cake all the time.  We visit each other all the time, and Freya and I did a road trip.  We went to Scarborough to her home town, and then Leicester to see Chigs, Birmingham for Rochica and then down to London to Amanda who hosted a barbecue for everyone and we stayed with Crystelle.  Then we went to Kent to see Tom, and Brighton to see Jurgen, and then over to Bournemouth to see Maggie.  We were driving for about 9 days, it was a fantastic trip, and we felt like Thelma and Louise! We get on so well we will be friends for life.’

 

Lizzie will join Jo Brand and Tom Allen on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Friday 12 November on Channel 4 at 8.00 pm. 

 

Q&A and Biography:

*We filmed this series in a covid secure bubble again this year, how did it feel to be meeting and living with your fellow bakers?

I was so worried about getting there and people not liking me, but within a day we were all close. It was amazing to be around 12 people who were so willing to teach and help you improve your knowledge to be a better baker.

 

*What did you enjoy most about being in the bubble and what did you miss most about being away from home?

All the knowledge sharing was like the best baking course you could ever do.  The thing I missed the most was my dog, Prudence.

 

*Did you pack a lucky item for your stay?

Nope.

 

*During the filming time when you were away from home, where did you say you were to friends?

I was on a work trip to a different factory.

 

*Can you describe the bakers as a group this year, and are you all on a what’s app group?

Yes, we are all on a what’s app group. As a group I would say “a supportive bubble of joy.”

 

*How nervous were you when Paul and Prue started judging the first signature challenge and how does it feel when they are judging the technical challenge when they don’t know who has baked which item?

When they were judging the first technical it felt surreal. I forgot I was sat there, it was like I was watching them at home, I forgot they were judging something I had made.

 

*Having watched Bake Off in the past, was the first day in the tent what you expected?

Yes, I knew something could go wrong because I was so engrossed by being in the tent and trying to take everything in, baking came second!

 

*Are you a messy or tidy baker?

Definitely messy.

 

*Who is your baking inspiration and what age did you start baking?

 Bakers like Dominque Ansel and all the previous bakers in the tent.

 

*The Bake Off family is a very exclusive club, how do you feel being a new member?

I feel so lucky that I was chosen to be in this special club, and I still question why!

 

*The warmth and love you get in the Tent is a very special feeling, what is the nicest thing in baking you have done for anyone/or given them. 

I think all bakes have love in them as you have had to take time to make them, so no matter how big or small the bake is you have always put thought, time and love into it.

 

* What is the cake you get asked to make the most for friends and family?

My sister is always after Mochi doughnuts! But most of the time people ask me to make cinnamon buns.

 

*If you were a cake what would you be and why? 

Birthday cake as they are always fun, but also birthday cake means a gathering of close family and friends and they’re really my favourite moments.

 

*In three words how would you describe yourself?

Colourful, outgoing, softy.

 

*Are there any bakes or flavours that you really dislike? and why…

Orange blossom - it reminds me of a nan perfume.

 

*When baking at home what do you have on in the background – music/TV/podcast/radio?

 I have true crime podcasts on. My favourite is Red Handed, crime and cakes go so well.

 

*Does it all seem a bit surreal that you have joined The Great British Bake Off family?

It seems so strange that I am now grouped in with a team of people I have stalked on social media for years.

 

*Do you think work colleagues and friends will be shocked to see you on TV? 

Yes I think they will be thinking how did this loon make it on the telly.

 

* What do you think it will be like watching yourself on television?  Behind a cushion or on delayed record?

 It will be awful. I think my accent will be so strong, also the fear that I can’t remember what I have said!

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Biography

 

Lizzie, 28

Liverpool

Car Production Operative

 

Lizzie and her partner live with their dog, Prudence, in an annex in her parents garden . A baker who prefers simple presentation and believes in flavour and quantity over precision, Lizzie may look like she’s frantic and messy on the outside, but she is usually calm and collected within. Her baking comfort zone is cake, but she loves experimenting with flavour and is generally prepared to give anything a go… as long as it doesn’t involve putting cheese in bread, which she thinks can only spell disaster. When she’s not baking, Lizzie can be found on the dance floor, doing the samba in a suitably jazzy costume, or investigating the lives of serial killers – a fascination she developed during her study for her criminology degree.