The Great British Bake Off 2014 - Episode 4

By Mark Savile

Turmoil in the tent

With the number of contestants now down to singles figures, the countdown to the final of The Great British Bake Off started in earnest this week. The pressure was firmly on Norman after surviving the last eviction by the skin of his teeth, and the judges were looking to see whether star baker Luis would continue his remarkable start in this week's dessert challenges.

Controversy was abound as things got hot for the first time in the tent when the pressure was really turned up.

Making 8 individual self-saucing puddings in only two hours was the order of the day for round one, which unsurprisingly led to the occasional 'saucy' double-entendre. Well-baked yet moist on the outside with a liquid centre was the aim. Over-baking was an issue for a number of bakers and the end results were mixed.
The following task was the fearsome technical one and the judges called for the bakers to recreate Mary's tiramisu cake from basic instructions, as customary. Both the lack of accurate measurements in the recipe and having to thinly slice incredibly slim sponges wreaked havoc in the tent. Paul and Mary ranked Martha, Luis and Chetna first second and third respectively, with Diana bringing up the rear and Norman in second to last place.

The showstopper challenge was to make a Baked Alaska, that unusual combination of sponge and a frozen ice cream centre, topped with browned meringues. Precision was of paramount importance, and the hot day hampered the ice cream's setting process.

The first embroilment of the series ensued when Diana removed Iain's ice cream from the freezer because he had apparently placed his creation in the wrong appliance. The resulting melted mess was deposited in the bin and he left the tent before the challenge was over, refusing to present any of the remaining carnage.

The judges criticised Iain's rashness in discarding the sponge and meringue, and Diana seemed to escape any comeuppance when she only needed to ask Iain to remove his ice cream to avoid the bedlam.

Richard was the resounding winner of star baker, but Mary and Paul had to deliberate over whether Norman would be sent packing because of his lack of originality and creativity or Iain for letting his emotions get the better of him. The decision was taken that he could not be allowed to return next week after not finishing and presenting the third challenge, and Norman lived to tell the tale once again.

With the intensity in the tent reaching new heights, week 5 and tart making is not to be missed.