The Great British Bake Off was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night after Tasha fell into an overheated tent and had to leave halfway through the ‘Chocolate Week’ episode.
The baker, 27, is the first deaf contestant on the Channel 4 program and appears on the show alongside her BSL interpreter, Daryl.
After a disappointing result in a tricky signature challenge, viewers noticed that Tasha looked ‘pale’ during the technical bake to make a chocolate cake without wheat flour.
A sick-looking Tasha told the crew, “It’s pretty hot, I need some air,” before rushing outside.
The tearful contestant was comforted by new host Alison Hammond as the show’s schedule was thrown into chaos.
Disruption: The Great British Bake Off was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night after Tasha fell into an overheated tent and had to leave halfway through ‘Chocolate Week’
Worrying: Viewers noticed that Tasha looked ‘pale’ during the technical challenge
New presenter: Alison Hammond comforts a tearful contestant as the show’s schedule is thrown into chaos
Tasha was filmed outside talking to the camera crew as she revealed that she had suffered from a migraine the previous night and the decision was made to go home.
After Matty won the Star Baker award for his box of chocolates, judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith announced that they had decided to stop the eliminations – but that two bakers would be going home next week.
Bake Off fans have been quick to condemn the producers for organizing chocolate week in the middle of a heatwave.
One said: ‘Do they deliberately pick chocolate week on the hottest day of the year or what?’
Another said: ‘No, but they really set them up to have chocolate week on a heatwave day???’
A third added: ‘Why don’t they ever learn.’
Viewers were quick to sympathize with Tasha and her disappointment at having to leave halfway through the challenge.
‘Poor Tasha,’ one commented, while another said: ‘Poor Tasha, you can see how exhausted she feels not being able to complete the challenge.’
Others were more cynical about her early departure, with one Twitter user saying: “I’d be sick too if I botched the first roast and then the second.”
Backlash: Bake Off fans were quick to criticize the makers for organizing chocolate week in the middle of a heatwave
Good news: Matty won Baker’s Star for his performance in a box of chocolates as all the contestants were allowed to stay
GREAT BRITAIN BAKE OFF 2023: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
Tasha
Age: 27
occupation: Participation Officer
From the: Bristol
Bake Off hosts have learned sign language as the show welcomes its first deaf contestant.
Tasha, 27, is a participation officer from Bristol and will join the show with her BSL interpreter, Daryl.
She said: ‘When I got the Zoom call to tell me I was one of 12, I cried. Daryl was crying too. We were in chaos.’
Amos
Age: 43
occupation: Manager of delicatessen and food products
From the: North London
Amos describes his baking as a labor of love – his style is colorful and chic with great attention to detail, and he loves to explore different flavor profiles.
He compares his baking style to the converted church he now lives in, calling both his style and home “traditional with a modern twist.”
Rowan
Age: 21
occupation: University student
From the: West Yorkshire
‘Go big or go home’ is the motto of student Rovan, which he has always applied to his cakes.
A student of English literature, when he’s not writing up a storm, Rowan is also an enthusiastic host, applying his creative eye to cooking.
Abby
Age: 27
occupation: Vegetable grower and delivery driver
From the: Cumbria
A fan of enjoying nature, she seeks out seasonal ingredients and makes good use of her homegrown vegetables.
Abbi’s Bakes aims to combine comfort and familiarity with a strong nod to nature and the feeling of creating something magical – baked goods with a touch of fairy tale.
Cristi
Age: 33
occupation: WELL
From: East London
For Christy, life with four kids means there’s always a birthday to bake for and an exciting party to plan.
He describes his baking style as enchanting and beautiful – pastries that evoke the feeling of childhood.
Day
Age: 42
occupation: Civil Engineering Resource Planner
From the: Cheshire
A perfectionist, Dan loves a baking challenge and will often find the most difficult bake in one of his 300 cookbooks.
When she’s not baking, she likes to play soccer with her two young sons or forage for edible treats in the countryside.
Of the day
Age: 25
occupation: Database administrator
From the: Essex
She likes a half-naked cake with neat lines, pretty piping and minimalist decorations; and while she likes to keep her flavors safe, Dana will often incorporate a spice or two, adding familiar spices associated with her Indian heritage.
Josh
Age: 27
occupation: Postdoctoral research associate
From the: Leicestershire
Postdoctoral Research Associate Josh is a chemist by trade and brings his scientist’s precision and desire to experiment to the kitchen, meticulously recording every part of the baking process.
Keith
Age: 60
occupation: An accountant
From the: Hampshire
Keith has a penchant for apple pies and fairy cakes – which he learned to bake with his mum.
Treats form the baking backdrop of Keith’s childhood, along with his mum’s love of traditional dishes from her home in Malta.
Matty
Age: 28
occupation: teacher of physical and natural sciences
From the: Cambridgeshire
He describes his style as rustic but neat, and his taste preferences as quite traditional – especially chocolate, citrus and nuts.
When the days in the tent are over, his next challenge will be to make his own wedding cake.
Nicky
Age: 52
occupation: Retired cabin crew and volunteer
From the: West Midlands
Her favorite baked goods are brownies, but she also likes to make fun birthday cakes for her niece and grandkids.
When she’s not baking, Nikki volunteers at a pet therapy charity with her dog Bracken and loves to ski, which she’s been doing since she was just three years old.
Saku
Age: 50
occupation: Intelligence analyst
From the: Herefordshire
In her family home in Sri Lanka, Saku didn’t have an oven until she was 18, so she only turned to baking when she and her husband moved to Great Britain in 2003.
Self-taught, she enjoys using her homegrown ingredients from her vegetables.
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