The Great British Bake Off: The third baker leaves the tent

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 Nigella Lawson, in ten episodes.

In Tuesday’s night’s episode of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, Tom was named Star Baker and sadly Molly was the third baker to leave the 17th series in Week 4. 

Also, due to family reasons, Nikki left the tent. On the judging of the signature challenge, Alison said  ‘Now unfortunately, the lovely Nikki had to go home due to family reasons so I am going to step in here for the judging of her cheesy pesto tear and share garlic bread.’

In Week 4 it was Bread Week, and as the rain crashed down on the tent, the Bread Overlord Paul Hollywood put the Bakers through their paces with three fiendishly tricky bread-based challenges.  A signature garlic bread and a spectacular showstopping bread display.   And one of the most disastrous Technicals in Bake Off history!

At the end of the fourth episode Alison announced that Tom was Star Baker and Noel had the difficult job of telling Molly that she would be leaving the tent, 

Molly said: ‘I knew it.  I am sad to be leaving the tent, but I think it’s my time and it’s the right decision.    I would feel guilty if I stayed longer than you guys.  You have got more to prove.  I really wanted to do biscuit week and bread week, and I got to bake with my husband in the tent.  It’s been a really wonderful experience and I am really proud of myself.  I have learned so much, thank you’. 

Paul said ‘You don’t get in the tent unless you are a good baker, but I think Molly struggled a little bit with the texture in Bread Week.’

Nigella added. ‘You have given us some beautiful bakes’.

Molly and Nikki talk about their time in the tent.

Molly:

*Overall what was your standout moment in the Tent? 

Turning around in the first challenge from a cake on the floor to something half-decent! 

*Favourite challenge overall and why.

 The biscuit mosaic Showstopper in Episode 2 as it went well and meant so much to me. 

*Least favourite challenge and why? 

The Cheesecake signature challenge for Episode 3. Baked cheesecakes actually make me feel really nauseous so it was my worst nightmare! 

*Can you describe how it felt when  Noel or Alison announced that you would be leaving the tent? How did your fellow Bakers cheer you up? 

I was disappointed but was expecting it as I felt it was the right moment for me to go. The Bakers were so lovely and made sure to lift my spirits by chatting about all sorts of things.

*Funniest moment in the tent?

 The technical in bread week was so terrible that we couldn’t help but laugh about it! 

*Did you have a wardrobe disaster in the tent, and did you have a lucky clothes, socks you wore?

 I wore a pair of socks I knitted myself on the day I made the self-portrait showstopper as there was a knitted design on it and I thought it would be good luck.

*Would you wear any of Noel’s jumpers or shirts?

 Yes! I love Noel’s jumpers. I’m a big fan of jumpers with cool designs 

*Did you do anything daft with Noel during your time in the tent, and did you get to either sing or dance with Alison? 

Noel, Alison and I had a conversation about what design I would do on a cake if they were going to get married which was very silly and funny. 

*What do you love most about all your fellow bakers?

 All of the bakers are so much fun but I loved how supportive everyone was of each other

*Did anything from the tent happen to slip into your bag when you were leaving the tent? (no judging)

 I may have forgotten to take my apron off before I put my coat on to leave! 

*What will you take away from your experience on Bake Off and do you feel that you have learned new skills? 

I’ve definitely learned how to bake and not put so much pressure on myself and because of that I find some of the things I used to find the hardest and take the most time are a much nicer process now 

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

 I think if you’re a fan of the show and love baking, you should definitely apply for the Bake Off. 

*What’s next for you in the baking world? 

Who knows! 

Biography

Molly

31

London

Accessibility Coordinator 

Molly is a caring and determined baker who started baking over 25 years ago, inspired by her grandmother. She loves traditional bakes and classic flavours, with hazelnut, fresh fruit and mint among her favourites. During a difficult period with her health in 2020, Molly turned to baking to stay motivated and keep connected to friends and family, taking her skills to a new level. Living in London with her husband Ash and their sausage dog, Lando, Molly works for a disability charity, reviewing accessibility in transport. A musical theatre fanatic, she has been involved in many drama groups and supports her local theatre. She is also a huge Formula 1 fan, clearing her diary for every race, and is currently 25% through a 350,000-stich cross-stich landscape of Rivendell. 

Nikki:

*Most difficult week?

Bread Week, but not because of the baking itself. Unfortunately, that was the week when my mum took a turn for the worse, and my Bake Off journey was sadly cut short.

I wasn't able to complete two out of the three challenges, but at that moment, there was absolutely nowhere else I wanted or needed to be. Being with my mum during her final days was the most important thing in the world to me, and I wouldn't have changed that decision for anything.

Although it was a difficult time, I'm incredibly grateful for the memories I made in the tent and for the opportunity to have been part of such a special experience. My mum was my biggest baking inspiration, so having her love and support with me throughout my journey meant everything.

*Favourite challenge overall and why.

My favourite challenge overall was definitely baking with a loved one during Audience Choice Week. It was such a special moment because it had never been done before, and to have my gorgeous cousin Jen standing alongside me in the tent was honestly the best thing.

We laughed so much throughout the challenge, even when the bake wasn't quite going to plan! 😂 Having someone there who knows me so well made the experience even more memorable. We were able to share the nerves, the excitement and all the silly moments together.

For me, baking has always been about bringing people together, so having the chance to bake with someone I love in the Bake Off tent was really meaningful. It's a memory I'll treasure forever.

*Overall what was your standout moment in the Tent?

I think my overall standout moment in the tent was completing my sombrero bake. It definitely wasn't the smoothest journey—I had a few teething problems along the way which set me back, and there were moments where I wasn't sure if I'd get it finished in time. But I kept going, and I managed to get it completed... literally just in time! Phew! 😂

That feeling when I stepped back and realised I'd done it was incredible. It reminded me that even when things don't go perfectly, you can still create something you're proud of if you keep pushing through. That moment will always stick with me.

*Would you wear any of Noel’s jumpers or shirts?

Absolutely, I would! Noel's jumpers and shirts are such a reflection of who he is—quirky, creative, fun and a little bit wacky, which I absolutely love. He's an artist, and you can really see that in the way he expresses himself through his clothes. They have so much personality, and I think they match his sense of humour perfectly.

I’d happily borrow one of his jumpers... although knowing me, I'd probably add a bit of extra colour and sparkle to it! 😂 We’re both a little bit silly and love having fun, so I think I’d fit right in.

*Did you do anything daft with Noel during your time in the tent, and did you get to either sing or dance with Alison?

Oh, absolutely! Noel and I had a very silly moment where we decided to walk around like zombies... which was very much up Noel's street! 😂 It was completely ridiculous, but that's exactly the kind of fun he brings to the tent.

And Alison and I definitely had a little dance moment too. We tried to twerk together... were we successful? Errrr... absolutely not! 😂 But did we laugh our heads off? Definitely!

Those little moments of silliness were some of my favourite memories because it showed how much fun and freedom there was in the tent. Noel and Alison are brilliant at bringing out that playful side in people.

*What do you love most about all your fellow bakers?

What I love most about my fellow bakers is how well we all got on. From the very beginning, everyone was so supportive, kind and encouraging towards each other.

It didn't matter what age we were or where we came from—we all blended together so naturally. We were all there sharing the same incredible, slightly nerve-wracking experience, and that created such a special bond between us.

I completely understand now why previous bakers have always said you become like a family. I truly get it, and I couldn't agree more. We celebrated each other's successes, picked each other up when things didn't go to plan, and shared so many laughs along the way.

I feel incredibly lucky to have shared that experience with such a wonderful group of people.

*Did anything from the tent happen to slip into your bag when you were leaving the tent? (no

judging)

Errrr... maybe Yannis and I may or may not have taken a little souvenir from the tent... a small bottle of Bacardi! 😂

No judging, right?! It was more about the memory and the laughs than anything else. After everything we experienced together, it felt like a funny little reminder of the amazing time we had.   I promise it wasn't a tent heist... just a tiny bit of cheekiness! Tee hee!

*What will you take away from your experience on Bake Off and do you feel that you have

learned new skills?

I think the biggest thing I’ll take away from my Bake Off experience is that sometimes less is more. I love experimenting with flavours and techniques, but I’ve definitely learned that you don’t need to put everything into one bake to make it special. Sometimes simplicity is the key to letting the flavours really shine.

I’ve also learned to trust my baking more, especially when it comes to bake times. I was always worried about underbaking, so I probably played it a little too safe and overbaked some things. Now I feel more confident knowing when a bake is truly ready.

And of course... I’ve learned the importance of adding a little bit of salt! 😂 Thank you, Nigella!

Overall, Bake Off has taught me so much—not just new skills, but how to have more confidence in my own style of baking.

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

I would ABSOLUTELY encourage people to apply! If Bake Off is something you've always dreamed of doing, go for it.

And if you've applied before and weren't successful, apply again, and again, and again! Use that time to practise, practise, practise. Learn new skills, try new bakes and, most importantly, put your own personality and spin into everything you create.

Believe in yourself and don't compare your baking journey to anyone else's. We all brought something completely different to the tent, and that's what made it so special.  The biggest piece of advice I would give is: trust yourself, enjoy the process and remember that your passion for baking is what makes you unique.

*What’s next for you in the baking world?

What’s next for me in the baking world? Well... definitely lots more baking! I want to keep learning, experimenting and developing new skills because there is always something new to discover.

I’d love to start sharing more of my baking journey online, including the successes and the bakes that don’t quite go to plan. I think it’s important to show the real side of baking—the wins, the lessons and everything in between. Hopefully, it will encourage others to give things a go too.

I’d love to share my baking experiences with people in different ways, whether that’s through online classes, in-person workshops or encouraging children, teenagers, young adults and anyone who wants to discover the joy of baking.

A dream of mine would be to create a very colourful baking cookbook that reflects my personality and style of baking—full of fun, flavour and lots of joy.

One thing I’m really excited to work on is improving my bread-making skills. Maybe I’ll have to team up with Paul Hollywood and learn from the best... Paul, fancy a baking lesson? 😂

Over and out!

Biography

Nikki

50

London

Advertising Post-Producer

Nikki is a colourful character with a colourful baking style. She started baking with her mum at seven and has always found baking to be a form of therapy. Her kitchen soundtrack depends on the bake: nostalgic R&B for tried and tested desserts and classical music to bring in the moment of calm needed for experimentation. Nikki is happiest surrounded by others and loves nothing more than feeding her family and friends. She has been with her “soul mate” Tom for 22 years, and they have a 16-year-old daughter, Ava. A former podium dancer at Basingstoke’s Ziggy’s Night Club in the 90s, Nikki still loves hitting the dance floor at R&B clubs with her cousins. She also enjoys theatre trips with her family and long walks, recently completing a 100-mile walk to raise money for breast cancer.

Comedian Jon Richardson hosts the brand new Great British Bake Off spin-off show, Second Helpings,alongside regular guest Judi Love. This week they are joined by comedian Lou Sanders as well as judges Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood to discuss all things 'Bread Week'. 

Applications are now open for Series 18 of The Great British Bake Off. To apply, go to applyforbakeoff.co.uk.