Great British Bake Off star calls show ‘life changing’ as she’s next eliminated
The Great British Bake Off 2026 cast (Love Productions)
The Great British Bake Off’s first ever Audience Choice Week saw Shannon become the second to be eliminated, after an episode that also saw Paul Hollywood call a bake “a great cake” moments before it hit the floor.
The 6 October instalment ended with Shannon becoming the second baker to leave the 17th series, while Clara was named Star Baker.
After the judges’ decision, Shannon, 29, from Gloucestershire, described her time in the tent as “life-changing”, saying: “I have just really been me and it has been life-changing.”
And while she didn’t get a coveted Paul Hollywood handshake for any of her bakes, she did ask for one upon her elimination, which he happily gave her.
Judge Nigella Lawson also reflected on the weekly eliminations, adding: “I can’t get used to the fact that someone has to go home.”
What was Bake Off Audience Choice Week?
Audience Choice Week reshaped the usual rhythm of the tent, with viewers setting the tasks for signature, technical and showstopper.
For the signature, the bakers had to make a baked cheesecake alongside a family member. In the technical, the 11 bakers were given mystery ingredient boxes and told to create something of their choice.
The biggest gasp of the night came during the wearable-bakes Showstopper, when Moyin presented a top hat cake. Hollywood praised it as “a great cake”, but after he cut a slice, the bake slid off its stand and dropped onto the floor.
“It needs to sit slightly lower on the head, then it wouldn’t have wobbled so much,” he said. Nigella Lawson, fellow judge, still described the cake as “sensational”.
Viewers divided
The format shake-up left viewers divided, with some calling it a success, while others demanded the show stop with “gimmicks”.
One said on X: “Good shout by the audience to have relatives come on and bake cheesecake!” Another said: “I like the idea of a mystery box invention test for the technical. Shakes things up a bit.”
While another complained: “The Great British Bake Off is such a beloved format, it really doesn’t need gimmicks or format changes. Audience-selected signatures, relatives baking, everyone doing different technicals, wearable bakes… all nonsense. Is there some new producer trying to make a mark? And another said: “Tried to fix something that wasn’t broken.”
The Great British Bake Off continues Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 4.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
