The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 5 aired on October 22, 2024 on Channel 4. This episode marked a pivotal pastry-focused competition among eight remaining bakers.
It concluded with car mechanic Andy, 44, departing after his Paris-Brest showstopper collapsed, while Gill earned Star Baker despite ranking last in the technical round.
Three challenges defined the results: a signature round of 12 frangipane tarts, Paul Hollywood's technical Greek Pie challenge, and a showstopper requiring a Paris-Brest centrepiece with an edible stand. Dylan secured first place in the technical challenge, earning praise for flavor execution and textures.
The remaining seven bakers advance to next week's competition, with Andy scheduled to appear on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on October 24 at 8:00 PM.
Car mechanic Andy exits during The Great British Bake Off’s Pastry Week drama
Andy's departure marked the fifth elimination of The Great British Bake Off Season 15. The car mechanic's final showstopper challenge proved fatal when his sugar tower structure shattered during assembly. With ten minutes remaining on the clock, Andy attempted to salvage his Paris-Brest presentation.
The incident affected his final product's appearance and structural integrity. After judging, Dame Prue Leith announced his elimination while acknowledging his previous accomplishments in the tent.
Following the announcement, Andy shared plans to pursue baking opportunities through social media platforms. The 44-year-old baker expressed gratitude for his time in the competition and aims to showcase his baking techniques to wider audiences.
New Star Baker
Gill's Star Baker victory emerged from remarkable recovery after ranking last in the technical challenge. Her showstopper creation, a lemon and thyme meringue Paris-Brest, earned exceptional praise from both The Great British Bake Off Season 15 judges.
Paul Hollywood's response included a standing ovation, marking a significant achievement in the competition.
The winning Paris-Brest demonstrated Gill's mastery of choux pastry techniques and flavor combinations. Her construction maintained stability throughout judging, while her custard filling received appreciation in particular. This victory marked her first Star Baker title in the competition.
Technical rankings
Dylan's winning technical performance demonstrated skilled pastry manipulation and proper baking times. The judges highlighted his filling consistency and pastry layers, while noting minor improvements needed.
Each baker received specific feedback about their Greek pie attempts, focusing on pastry thickness, filling ratios, and baking completion levels.
The complete ranking from first to eighth position of this Great British Bake Off Season 15 episode stood as follows:
- Dylan
- Keith
- Nelly
- Dana
- Matty
- Tasha
- Saku
- Gill
Paul Hollywood emphasized on proper phyllo pastry techniques while evaluating each entry. The judging focused on three main criteria: pastry layering, filling consistency, and baking completion. Dylan's winning pie demonstrated proper moisture balance and even bake throughout the layers.
Signature and Showstopper challenges
The opening signature challenge tasked bakers with creating 12 frangipane tarts within strict time parameters. Each baker presented unique flavor interpretations of the classic almond-based filling. The judges evaluated pastry thickness, even bakes, and filling ratios across all entries. Consistent tart sizes and decoration precision also factored into scoring criteria.
The showstopper challenge demanded a complex Paris-Brest centrepiece incorporating four mandatory elements: an edible stand, gateau component, choux pastry ring, and minimum one custard filling. Andy's construction suffered a critical setback when his sugar tower crumbled with ten minutes remaining.
Gill's lemon and thyme meringue version earned exceptional praise, featuring stable construction and balanced flavors. The three-hour time limit tested bakers' abilities to manage multiple components while maintaining quality standards.
Each creation required careful assembly sequence and temperature control for structural stability. Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith assessed both technical execution and artistic presentation before making final judgments.
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The completion of Pastry Week leaves seven bakers competing for The Great British Bake Off Season 15 title. The upcoming episode will present new challenges as the competition advances.
Andy's scheduled appearance on Extra Slice will provide additional insights into his experience. The remaining contestants face increasing pressure as they progress toward the final stages of the competition.
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