The Great British Bake Off has confirmed that two iconic challenges will not be returning this year, leaving viewers disappointed.
The baking competition has returned on Channel 4 for its 17th series, with Nigella Lawson joining Paul Hollywood as a judge after she replaced Dame Prue Leith.
Nigella previously said: "I'm uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now. Of course it's daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I'm also bubbling with excitement."
She added: "The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a National Treasure – and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it. I'm just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!"
Chocolate and Ice Cream Week dropped
The programme's social media team announced the news on its TikTok account, posting: "Hottest summer on record and there's no Chocolate Week or Ice Cream Week."
Viewers shared their devastation over the news, with many having hoped for dramatic meltdowns during the highly-anticipated weeks.
One person wrote: "All summer me and my mum joked about chocolate week, this has literally ruined our lives." Another said: "Well this is disappointing." A third added: "Aww chocolate week was so chaotic!"
Biscuit Week and Shannon's return
The second episode, airing on Tuesday, 29 September, is Biscuit Week. Channel 4 teased: "It's Biscuit Week. Whose cookies, nostalgic classics and visually stalking mosaics will stir up Nigella and Paul's emotions, and how will the cookie crumble?"
The episode will also mark one baker's return, after Gloucester contestant Shannon had to leave halfway through the first week on medical advice.
Alison said on the show: "As the bakers push to finish their portrait cakes, the tent is missing one. Unwell, Shannon has had to head home."
Shannon later appeared on spin-off programme Second Helpings, where she addressed her exit. "I'm back, don't worry, I'm alive," she joked.
Host Jon Richardson, who co-presents with Judi Love after the show replaced Tom Allen and Jo Brand's Extra Slice, asked Shannon: "What was wrong with you?" to which she replied: "Nothing you need to worry about."
She went on: "Something very minor, I had to have a little check-up, I was all-clear, it's all good." She then added: "I had a bit of a dicky tummy."
No elimination in week one
Shannon also revealed on the show that she had just got married, celebrating two weeks since she became a wife. She said: "The best thing was, I had nearly all the bakers at the wedding, and we had the best pudding table going."
After Shannon's sudden exit from week one, and despite two cakes falling in the first episode, Nigella and Paul made the decision that nobody would be going home.
Alison said at the end: "Unfortunately, I have the sad job of announcing which baker is leaving. The first baker leaving the tent is... no one!" She added: "You are all safe, and well done."
Nigella then told cameras: "We had a very difficult decision to make. Because Shannon was unwell and had to leave, it seemed the fairest thing to give everyone a chance, go into next week and prove themselves then."
The Bake Off continues on Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 4.
