The Great British Bake Off bid farewell to another contestant this week as Shannon was eliminated from the Channel 4 competition during the show's first-ever Audience Choice Week.
The 29-year-old project manager from Gloucestershire was forced to leave the tent immediately after the latest episode's challenges, and was left in tears as she reflected on her time on the show.
Fans choose the challenges
For the first time in the show's history, the bakers faced a series of challenges chosen by viewers at home. The Audience Choice Week still featured signature, technical and showstopper challenges, but the themes were not set by judges Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood.
The signature challenge was making a cheesecake inspired by the bakers' families, with each contestant allowed to invite a relative into the tent to help with the process. The technical task saw the bakers picking ingredients out of a mystery box and creating something to serve in just two hours. The showstopper asked the contestants to make wearable bakes, meaning a pastry that is both edible and fashionable.
Emotional exit
After putting her best foot forward, Shannon was eliminated from the competition. She shared: "Oh, it's so hard to put into words, like, what this has meant to me. I've become myself, if anything. I've let go of any persona of who I wish I was or whatever. I've really just been me, so life-changing. That is the word. Life-changing."
She added: "I don't want to say bye to anyone, but... yeah." An emotional Nigella said: "I can't get used to it, the fact that someone has to go home. But someone has to go home."
Mixed viewer reactions
Channel 4 viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on the new Audience Choice Week, with reactions mixed. One disappointed viewer posted: "I'm sure all the ideas for audience week were sent in by people who don't watch #gbbo."
Another added: "Not a fan of audience week at all. #gbbo," while someone else fumed: "I am absolutely HATING the new 'theme' this week audience week?!" A further viewer wrote: "Also the entire point of the technical is they make the same thing and then you see who does it best. Not a random bunch of ingredients and make whatever they like #gbbo."
But some viewers were thrilled to see a fresh theme on their screens, with one person sharing: "Audience Week is a great week #GBBO." The Great British Bake Off is available to watch on Channel 4 online.
