Viewers of The Great British Bake Off are demanding that judge Paul Hollywood apologise after he accidentally knocked a contestant's showstopper cake off a mannequin head during the showstopper challenge, then attributed the mishap to its design.
Week three of the Channel 4 series was audience choice week, featuring an interactive element for the first time, and bakers were also allowed to bring a friend or family member into the tent. For the showstopper, contestants had to create a 'wearable' edible item.
Essex baker's 'hat' cake topples
Essex-based baker Moyin opted for a 'hat' – a decorated cake balanced atop a mannequin head. As Paul grabbed a slice to taste, the rest of the cake toppled over, smashing onto the table and floor to stunned silence.
Paul showed little remorse, quipping: 'Yeah, well it needs to sit slightly lower on the head. It wouldn't have wobbled as much.'
Despite the execution, both Paul and new judge Nigella Lawson praised the flavours of the one saved slice, calling it 'delicious' and 'sensational'. Paul later reiterated: 'I didn't think you met the brief. I think it needed to look more like a hat than a cake. But well done.'
Fans react on social media
Social media users were outraged on Moyin's behalf, with many believing he deserved an apology.
- 'Paul needs to apologise for destroying the cake,' Mrs S declared on X.
- 'They toppled his cake?!?' Shan/CCB wrote.
- 'Why has Paul taken some of them off the mannequins to cut but left others on and then blamed one of them falling, on it being too flat and f**k all to do with his heavy handedness?' just me asked.
- ''Didn't meet the brief' my ass YOU KNOCKED OVER HIS CAKE????' esme2822 passionately defended.
- 'Paul dropping someone else's cake and then blaming them for it,' PopCReview said.
- 'Not Paul Hollywood blaming the contestant for him literally knocking the cake off the mannequin during Bake off. Complete goon,' XL Manlet reflected.
- 'Thought the judges could've been more apologetic about the cake falling tbh,' CatherineM suggested.
Throuple talk lightens the mood
Another notable moment came when talk turned to throuples. Contestant Gabe brought one of his partners, Ellis, to the show, explaining he has another partner, Tyler, and the three call themselves a 'throuple boyband'.
Paul joked: 'I have a TV partner, and I have a home partner.' Gabe then needled: 'Oh so you're in one as well, really?' to which Nigella quickly replied: 'Erm well… not quite'.
The interaction amused viewers, with Dan noting 'Paul's face at the throuple' and Bogan enjoying 'Paul's mind being blown by the concept of a throuple'.
The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4 every Tuesday at 8pm.
