The Great British Bake Off Season 15's first double celebration leads to tears in episode 6

The Great British Bake Off
The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Judges | Image source: Instagram/britishbakeoff

Sumayah secured her second Star Baker title in The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 6 which aired on October 29, 2024. Her victory came through three autumn-themed challenges, culminating in a beetroot-ginger-walnut cake that earned Paul Hollywood's handshake.

Seven The Great British Bake Off Season 15 contestants tackled sweet autumnal pies, vegan parkin, and vegetable-based celebration cakes in episode 6 of the season. Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, alongside hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, presided over the autumn-themed competition.

The episode concluded with an emotional departure of Nelly from the competition. The palliative care assistant from Dorset remained positive despite her elimination, moving her fellow contestants to tears.

As others in the tent became emotional, Nelly encouraged them saying 'Don't cry! Everyone is crying...' while reflecting on her children's pride in her achievement.


Autumn Week sees Sumayah rise as star baker again in The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 6

The opening signature challenge of The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 6 showcased the bakers' interpretations of sweet pies with autumn flair. Christiaan stood out with his Forest Cano-pie, merging quince and pumpkin in a creation that won praise for both visual appeal and flavor balance. His pastry received perfect marks from the judges, who praised the equilibrium of seasonal spices.

Gill sustained her momentum with a Blackberry & Apple "Windy Day" pie that earned high praise from Prue Leith for its execution and taste. The judges noted the excellent textures throughout her bake.

Other bakers met various obstacles during the challenge. Illiyin's Autumnal Fruit Pie, while creative in its pear, blueberry, and ginger combination, fell short due to undercooked pastry. Dylan's Autumnal Apple Pie showed promise with its flavors but received criticism from Prue for its tough texture.


Technical rankings

The technical round introduced a traditional British bonfire treat with strict vegan requirements. Prue Leith tasked bakers with creating parkin without eggs, demanding precise timing and temperature control. The challenge rankings revealed:

  1. Illiyin
  2. Georgie
  3. Sumayah
  4. Dylan
  5. Nelly
  6. Christiaan
  7. Gill

The technical results marked a striking shift from The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 5’s performance. Gill moved from Star Baker to last place, while Illiyin rebounded from her raw pastry issues in the signature challenge to claim the top spot.

The vegan specifications proved particularly challenging as bakers struggled with adjusted baking times and achieving the right texture without traditional ingredients.


Showstopper challenge

The showstopper challenge pushed bakers to create celebration cakes incorporating seasonal vegetables. Sumayah's Autumn Leaves Harvest Cake proved exceptional, with Paul Hollywood praising her beetroot, ginger, and walnut combination as comparable to sticky toffee pudding.

The technical execution and flavor balance earned her a coveted Hollywood handshake, with Paul declaring it among the finest cakes he had tasted in recent memory.

Drama unfolded when Dylan dropped his Diwali-themed cake and had to restart. Despite the setback, his second attempt featuring beetroot and orange earned praise for its flavors, though the presentation showed signs of the time pressure.

Illiyin's Day of the Dead Cake impressed the judges with its vibrant appearance and appropriate spice levels, marking another strong performance following her technical challenge victory.

Christiaan's Roots of Samhain Cake incorporated unconventional vegetables including parsnip and celeriac alongside apple. While Paul found the appearance somewhat dark, both judges commended the stained glass effect and overall taste.

Georgie's Tree Trunk Scene creation achieved visual impact but suffered from moisture issues in the sponge, though the flavors remained on point according to Paul.


Episode results

The combination of challenges led to significant outcomes for two The Great British Bake Off Season 15 bakers. Sumayah's consistent performance across challenges, particularly her standout showstopper, secured her second Star Baker title of the season. Her first win came during Biscuit Week, making her the first contestant in Season 15 to achieve multiple Star Baker honors.

The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 6 concluded with Nelly's departure from the competition. Some fellow bakers burst into tears as she said her goodbyes. 'Don't cry!' Nelly told her weeping fellow contestants. The palliative care assistant from Dorset shared, "I know my children are so proud." She expressed gratitude for reaching round 6, telling the group,

"In each of your heart is a piece of Nelly and you are never going to forget me. Cake – we can bake!"

The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 7 will air on November 5, 2024, on Channel 4 in the UK, with the US broadcast scheduled for November 8, 2024.

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Edited by Sezal Srivastava