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

16 October 2024

In Tuesday’s night’s episode of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, Georgie was named Star Baker and Mike was the fourth baker to leave the 15th series.

The nation’s most famous tent was pitched in the grounds of Welford Park once again. Presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond came to lead the latest batch of 12 bakers through thirty brand new challenges set by Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, in 10 episodes.

In Week 4 it was Caramel Week on The Great British Bake Off, and Prue and Paul drizzled three indulgent challenges onto the Bakers plates.  In the Signature challenge, they were tasked with crafting irresistible Caramel biscuits, whilst the Technical tested the Bakers’ skills with a caramel classic. But it was the Showstopper that really turned up the heat, pushing the Bakers’ Caramel skills to the limit as they were asked to create decadent Caramel mousse cakes.

At the end of the fourth episode Alison announced that Georgie was the Star Baker and Noel had the difficult job of telling Mike that he would be the fourth Baker leaving the tent. 

 

Mike said: "I feel it was my time to go, I am just this little farmer who does baking in the kitchen.

I feel the quality of what everyone else is doing is just breathtaking.  And yes I am going to miss everyone.  That’s why I am sad (cries). One thing my mum said to me was don’t cry …."

 

Here Mike talks about his time after leaving the tent:

What do you feel that you have learned the most from your experience in the tent?

I have learned so much more about baking - techniques, skills, the science behind it, both from my practising / recipe development and from my time in the tent itself. I have also learned so much more about what I am capable of and what I can achieve - I have really surprised myself.

 

Overall what was your best and worst moment in the Tent?

My best moment probably remains that first time walking into the tent with all of my fellow bakers. Sharing that magical, almost out of body, experience with those fabulous people is a moment of pure wonder that is firmly etched into my psyche forever. My worst moment was when Paul said that my mousse cake wasn’t really a mousse cake - I knew at that moment that that was it for me and I was going home. I just wish I had put the rest of my mousse into the cake and hope they still didn’t notice that it was split!

 

What’s next for you in the baking world?

We are pressing ahead with our plans for opening a Farmshop and Cafe here on the farm. We’re planning to include an in-house bakery, so I am very excited to get on developing and perfecting ideas and recipes for all the sweet and savoury treats we want to serve!

 

Favourite challenge overall and why.

Surprisingly to me, I really enjoyed all of the bread week challenges. I thought there would be extra pressure and it would be especially stressful, but actually I was just so pleased to still be in the tent that I felt I could relax into and enjoy the experience a little more. If I had to pick one, it would probably be the horn, the innuendos alone are enough to make it the best!

 

Worst challenge and why?

Coming last in the Battenberg technical was definitely a low point! I felt quietly confident when we heard the challenge, how misguided! I make marzipan at home all the time around Christmas for my mince pies and Christmas Cake and I feel utterly ashamed at what a shambles I made of it in the tent - the pressure just really got to me at that point!

 

Can you describe how you felt when the presenter announced that you would be leaving how did your fellow Bakers cheer you up.

Honestly I was utterly devastated, although not surprised. Everyone else is so incredibly talented, I felt like an imposter from the start. I was so scared that it was going to be me going, I’d already worked myself up, so when I heard my name the tears just exploded - I never thought I would get quite that emotional, but the tent and the relationships you develop are so special, it’s awful having it all come to such an abrupt end. I cannot believe how far I got, but I would have given anything to have gotten through to Pastry Week, that was my ultimate hope and I am absolutely gutted to have just missed out on getting there.

 

All of the bakers were absolute darlings though, they were all so kind and supportive and incredibly complimentary of everything that I had baked. I was so scared that by leaving when I did the other bakers would have soon forgotten about me and that I’d lose them all as friends, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth! We are all still so close and I feel truly blessed to have them all in my life and so lucky that I can call them all dear friends! They’re all coming to my Wedding next year!

 

Funniest moment in the tent throughout your time there?

Every second with Alison was entirely hilarious, but Prue telling me to work on my bulge is not feedback that I ever thought I’d get, but will stick with me forever. It just floored me and it still makes me laugh now!

 

What do you love most about all your fellow bakers

Their care, kindness and their genuine unfaltering willingness and desire for everyone else to succeed and feel accomplished and proud. You could not wish to meet a more wonderful group of people and I feel lucky beyond articulation to be counted among them.

 

What will you take away from your experience on Bake Off?

The best, most delightful, group of incredible lifelong friends and fond memories that I know will still make me smile and bring me joy when I am a doddery old man reminiscing on all the best moments in my life. I know that Bake Off will always be right up there as one of the highlights of my life and to have been given the opportunity for such a special life-defining experience like this is something that I will never be able to fully express my gratitude for!

 

Would you encourage other home bakers to apply for the next series?

DO IT!!! I guarantee it’ll be the best and most bonkers thing you’ve ever done! The whole application process is incredible fun, the whole team are absolutely wonderful and they make that experience alone a very special one! Getting on the show is the ultimate cherry on the cake and all of the work that goes into applying is worth it a thousand times over for the opportunity of this indescribable experience!