GBBO faces ‘fix’ rumours over last night’s Star Baker

That didn't take long!

Prue Leith

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

There may have only been one episode of the new series of The Great British Bake Off so far, but that hasn't stopped fans of the show calling it a fix. P.s, we're obvs talking about last night's episode (28th August), so look away if you don't want spoilers.

The premiere episode of the second Channel 4-hosted GBBO series saw the 12 contestants take on the Biscuit Challenge instead of Week One giving them the opportunity to show off their cake-making skills.

The bakes were AMAZING, and there are a couple of front-runners leading the way already - but the winner of the first Star Baker has ruffled a few feathers as it's been revealed they ALREADY have baking AND TV experience.

Ok, everyone who didn't want to read spoilers has HOPEFULLY gone. Don't say we didn't warn you.

After three sensational bakes - as well as smashing the dreaded Technical Challenge - Frenchwoman Manon was awarded Star Baker for episode one, and there was a really sweet moment where she phoned up her dad and they had a lovely little weep together.

HOWEVER. As viewers normally do during TV shows like Bake Off, they kicked off and called the show a "fix" after Manon's triumph after it was discovered that she's actually already taken part in a TV cooking show.

Here's everything we know so far about this year's Bake Off contestants...

Gallery

RADIO Great British Bake Off 2018 line up slider with cover pic

GBBO1 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Meet this year's GBBO contestants...

GBBO2 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Antony, 30

Antony describes himself as a 'Bollywood baker', and grew up in India which is where he learned to bake with his father - his baking inspiration. He's unafraid to try out new things and bakes 'unconventionally'. Antony once tasted 50 choux buns on a trip to Paris!

GBBO3 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Briony, 33

Briony is a self-taught baker from Bristol who has been inspired by her Nan. She has used YouTube tutorials to learn specific techniques and has been seriously baking on 2013 - and describes herself as a 'whizz' with puff pastry.

GBBO4 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Dan, 36

Dan describes himself as a perfectionist, and considers the way a bake looks to be one of the most important elements of baking. He is a full-time father-of-two, which makes home-baking an intrinsic part of his life.

GBBO5 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Imelda, 33

Imelda is one of four from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, learning to cook and bake from her mum. She spends a lot of her time baking soda breads and and biscuits for her father and son as well as cakes that she shares with her office.

GBBO6 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Jon, 47

Jon, from Wales, loves spending time with his wife and their four children, and bakes to relax after a day at work. He loves 'showy' bakes and researching for new ideas to achieve something unique.

GBBO7 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Karen, 60

Having lived in France for 15 years, Karen is a lover of baking and was inspired by the local patisserie - and is now a prolific maker of profiteroles, Religieuse buns, tartes au citron and even foot long eclairs.

GBBO8 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Kim-Joy, 27

As Kim-Joy's birthday is World Baking Day, she is convinced that it's a sign she was born to bake. She was born in Belgium to an English father and a Malaysian–Chinese mother, grew up in London and studied in Bristol and Leeds before settling there with her partner. Kim-Joy's mixed-heritage background is a great source of inspiration for her baking, and her passion is bread.

GBBO9 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Luke, 30

Luke has been baking since the tender age of 10, and is inspired by his travels through Europe and North America. His minimalistic and clutter-free attitude has a great bearing on his baking, and he prefers to create masterpieces that are clean and precise.

GBBO10 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Manon, 26

Frenchwoman Manon learned to bake with her mum and grandmother, who always made everything from scratch. Although she was brought up in a French household, Manon found her passion for baking whilst living in London, and takes baking inspiration from both places.

GBBO11 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Rahul, 30

Rahul grew up in Kolkata, moving to the UK at 23 for a university scholarship. As a research scientist, his instinct is to approach baking with a meticulous eye and is fascinated by the science of baking.

GBBO12 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Ruby, 29

Ruby says her love of baking came from being the 'mother' of the group once she went to university. She grew up in an Indian family with three siblings, and describes her baking style as 'relaxed and boozy'.

GBBO13 of 13
CREDIT: Channel 4

Terry, 56

Terry used to work as a prosthetic technician, and owns a microbrewery and allotment. These all have a bearing on his baking, and his craftmanship is a testament to his background. His family taught him everything he knows about baking, with his dad teaching him to make bread and pastry from the age of just 10.

Apparently, Manon once took part in BBC cooking show The Box, which sees contestants handed a number of random ingredients in a box to make a meal out of - and a TV source told The Sun that this gives her a major advantage over the others.

They said, "Bake Off is all about normal people who enjoy creating food masterpieces being plucked from nowhere to try and become Britain's top amateur baker. It's meant to be a level playing field for all contestants in terms of stepping into that tent for the first time.

"For one person to have been in a TV environment before gives them a huge advantage."

But show producers hit back at the claims, as a spokesperson told the publication, "We are fully aware that Manon appeared in one episode of The Box and this does not affect her eligibility to take part in The Great British Bake Off."

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