Sam Thompson's Chaotic Bake Off Ordeal: From 'Horrible' Bakes to Lemon Mishaps
Reality television personality Sam Thompson endured a spectacularly chaotic and disastrous performance during his appearance on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer. The former Made In Chelsea star competed alongside fellow celebrities Ambika Mod, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Vicky Pattison, and Alex Brooker in the charity special, but his baking efforts were met with harsh criticism from the show's judges.
A Signature Disaster: 'Horrible' Mini Rolls
Thompson's troubles began during the signature challenge, where he presented rainbow sprinkle mini rolls to judges Cherish Finden and Paul Hollywood. Finden did not mince words, branding the bakes as 'horrible' in her assessment. Hollywood echoed this sentiment, expressing clear disappointment with both the appearance and taste of Thompson's creation.
In a particularly humorous moment, Paul Hollywood suggested that Thompson might be better suited for Junior Bake Off instead of the celebrity version. The reality star was visibly gutted by the feedback, having hoped for the coveted Hollywood handshake that eluded him throughout the competition.
Technical Challenge Catastrophe: Lemon Juice and Eggshells
The situation deteriorated further during the technical challenge, where celebrities were tasked with creating syrup sponges. Thompson's attempt was marred by multiple mishaps that would challenge even the most experienced baker.
- While preparing his sponge and syrup, Thompson accidentally squeezed lemon juice directly into his eye, causing significant discomfort during the baking process.
- When his syrup sponges reached the judging table, judges discovered multiple eggshells embedded within the batter.
- The sponge itself was described as quite raw and undercooked, resulting in Thompson finishing in fourth place for the technical challenge.
Choux Pastry Problems and Surprising Praise
During the second day of competition, Thompson faced additional challenges with his choux pastry creation. He opened the oven door too early despite explicit instructions from judge Cherish Finden to keep it closed, causing his pastry to deflate dramatically. Later, he accidentally cracked his choux pastry spirals open while handling them.
Presenting what he called his 'T-Rex in choux' creation, Thompson explained it was filled with 'love' and inspired by a video he made for his sister Louise. In a surprising turn of events, Paul Hollywood declared that he 'loved it', while Cherish Finden exclaimed 'Mamma Mia' in apparent delight, prompting a thrilled shout from Thompson.
Viewer Reactions and Fellow Contestant's Crush
Viewers found Thompson's baking failures both hilarious and endearing, with many taking to social media to comment on his disastrous performance. One viewer wrote: '"we do a thing called Junior Bakeoff" Hahahahaha poor Sam', while another noted: 'Sam makes mini rolls - We do Junior bake off & it's horrible.' A supportive fan added: 'Sam Thompson is one of my favourite humans in this world.'
Elsewhere in the episode, fellow contestant Vicky Pattison revealed her longstanding crush on judge Paul Hollywood. The 38-year-old reality star, best known for Geordie Shore, admitted: 'I still fancy Paul Hollywood... He is a silver fox and a wicked bit of kit.' She particularly praised his eyes, saying: 'His eyes are something else... you can get lost in those baby blues!'
Pattison expressed embarrassment about her desperation for a Hollywood handshake, acknowledging: 'I'm too desperate for a Hollywood handshake... it's genuinely embarrassing.' Despite the cringe factor, her participation served an important purpose, raising money for Stand Up To Cancer, a charity close to her heart due to family and friends' battles with the disease.
Rose Ayling-Ellis Claims Star Baker Title
While Thompson struggled through his baking challenges, Coronation Street actress and Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis emerged victorious as Star Baker. Her adorable mouse choux buns impressed the judges sufficiently to claim the top honor in the celebrity baking competition.
The episode showcased both the humorous failures and surprising successes that characterize The Great Celebrity Bake Off, all while raising crucial funds for cancer research through Stand Up To Cancer. Thompson's chaotic performance provided ample entertainment, demonstrating that even disastrous baking can make for compelling television when celebrities step into the iconic tent.
