Great British Bake Off contestant Rebs Lightbody defended her absence from the latest episode after viewers accused her of pulling a "sickie."
The Channel 4 baking competition was missing two contestants on Tuesday’s episode, as both Rebs and Abdul were forced to pull out due to illness. Some viewers took to social media to speculate the pair had pulled a "sickie" to avoid the show’s notorious bread week, with others feeling it was unfair they were able to skip a week and saying they should be eliminated.
Defending herself on Twitter, Rebs said: “Will say it once for the people in the back, I DID NOT want to miss bread week (it was probably my strongest week), I was forced to go home for the safety of all in the tent, I just wanted the world to see my Lahmacun pizza and Mexican style smorgastarta!
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“No matter what you think of me and my bakes pls know I didn't pull a “sickie”, I begged to stay and then I cried all the way back to Northern Ireland.”
Later, Rebs shared a screenshot of a photo she sent to a friend after being told she was not “allowed in the tent.” Her caption on the photo said: “Camila Cabello said ain't no crying in the club but she never said anything about not crying in the taxi cause you're missing your best baking week.”
Will say it once for the people in the back, I DID NOT want to miss bread week (it was probably my strongest week), I was forced to go home for the safety of all in the tent, I just wanted the world to see my Lahmacun pizza and Mexican style smorgastarta! #gbbo
— Rebs Lightbody (@rebsbakes)
Many fans took to the comments to show their support to the 23-year-old baker, as one wrote: “Sorry to hear this! Hope you back and baking well next week!”
Another added: “Sorry that people are being horrid again will be good to see you back in the tent again next week.”
“Back bigger and stronger next week,” said a third.
Series judge Prue Leith has insisted the bakers have not been given a free pass and teased that viewers may witness a double elimination later in the series. She said: “They were all thrilled to bits because nobody had to go.
“They are all friends, they don’t want to see their friends go home, but sooner or later, we have to send two bakers home and that’s not nice.”
The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4 on Tuesdays at 8pm.
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