Drama Rules The Tent On The Great British Bake Off

A baker melts down and two stars emerge

SPOILERS AHEAD. DON’T READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO AVOID THEM.

Each week in Red Beans & Advice, I’m reviewing episodes of The Great British Bake Off and the Great Canadian Baking Show for paid subscribers. Upgrade your subscription and you can read them, too.

All Bow Down To Paul Hollywood And Worship At The Altar Of Bread

Bread Week — aka all fear Paul Hollywood Week — on the Great British Bake Off was full of drama. It revealed three things.

• Paul had never heard of gochujang, the ubiquitous Korean chili paste.

• Prue had never eaten whipped bone marrow.

• Jeff, the American contestant who fell ill earlier in the season, disappeared from the tent and we never found out why.

Bread Week is a constant reminder that Paul is a master bread baker and you’ll never be as good as Paul so steal yourself for his inevitable critiques.

That did not sit well with John. “I like baking bread for myself and my friends, not Paul Hollywood,” he said. You could hear the “dun, dun, DUN” of doom behind him.