The Great British Bake Off has come under fire from fans after judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith set what many described as its most “ridiculous” challenge yet.
Tuesday night’s episode introduced the first-ever Back to School Week, with contestants asked to whip up nostalgic sweet treats inspired by school dinners.
The signature challenge saw the bakers prepare 12 identical flapjacks with their own choice of filling and topping, while the technical task appeared straightforward at first – a traditional school cake.
However, there was a catch. Instead of reaching for ready-made decorations, the bakers were told they must make their own sprinkles from scratch. The twist left contestants visibly stunned and sparked uproar online.
One viewer wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Next week on #GBBO they’ll be smelting iron ore to make their own baking trays. Making sprinkles, honestly.” Another added: “I’m not saying Bake Off has gone too far but making them make sprinkles is the most ridiculous thing they’ve ever made contestants do.”
“Sprinkles from scratch, that’s ridiculous!” declared a third fan, while someone else said: “Not being funny but I worked in school kitchens and we never made our own sprinkles!!”
Others branded it “psycho” and “a punishment,” with one comment reading: “Homemade sprinkles is mad… it didn’t even occur to me you could make them at home.”
Inside the tent, Nadia came last in the technical after her effort was dismissed as “rock solid,” while Jasmine impressed enough to claim first place.
The showstopper challenge tasked the group with creating a summer fête stall packed with childhood favourites. Even the judges admitted the technical had been a step too far, joking: “No one’s going to make their own sprinkles ever again.”
Drag queen Jessika struggled throughout the episode and ultimately became the latest baker to leave the competition.
Praising the departing contestant, Leith said: “The thing I have loved about Jessika all the way through is that she is very creative and she takes risks every single week. And I think she took the risk too far this week.”
Jasmine meanwhile cemented her frontrunner status, being crowned Star Baker for the second week running, while fellow contestant Iain narrowly escaped elimination.
Reflecting on her exit, Jessika said: “This was going to be my last year to apply and I feel chuffed that I made it to the tent. I have met some incredibly talented, inspiring bakers so it’s not all bad.”
