Makbul Patel has left ‘The Great British Bake Off’.
The 51-year-old accountant – who hails from Greater Manchester – departed the Channel 4 show during its second week, where bakers were tasked with a series of baking challenges featuring the humble biscuit.
After finding out about his exit, Makbul said: "I expected it, I felt it in my bones that it was me. I know that I gave everything. It was a privilege to be here meeting new people and making new friends, it has just been amazing. I wasn’t too keen on the Biscuit Showstopper in Week 2 – I think that was my downfall. I can be a bit pessimistic and I concentrated so much on not leaving in Episode 1, that I neglected the Biscuit week."
And Makbul has vowed to continue to watch the show, despite his early exit from the Channel 4 competition.
He added: "I will be watching the series weekly and will continue to make bakes for the family. I am not sure if ‘The Great British Bake Off’ will change my life, it is probably too early to say, but let’s see how I get on. I want to carry on with my enthusiasm for not just baking but cooking in general. If only everyone in the world had the same opportunities."
In this week’s episode, the remaining bakers faced The Signature Challenge, where they had to make their own florentine biscuits whilst the Technical Challenge saw them make 12 coconut macaroons, half filled with chocolate whilst the other six had to be piped with mango curd.
For the Showstopper Challenge, the bakers were tasked with making a 3D biscuit sculpture of a dinner setting. However, Makbul’s Chai Tea afternoon tea inspired sculpture didn’t go to plan and he saw himself booted from the competition. It was a good week for Dave Friday though, who was named Star Baker.