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‘Like there’s been a fire at Madame Tussauds': Bake Off fans react to ‘hilarious’ celebrity cake bust challenge

New season of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ was filmed during lockdown, with contestants isolating together

Isobel Lewis
Wednesday 23 September 2020 08:33 BST
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Matt Lucas parodies Boris Johnson for Great British Bake Off advert

The Great British Bake Off fans have declared last night’s episode one of the “best ever” thanks to a bizarre showstopper challenge.

The hugely popular baking competition returned on Tuesday (22 September), with the bakers challenged to create three-dimensional busts of their celebrity heroes.

Among the stars being celebrated in cake form were David Attenborough, Lupita Nyong’o and Bill Bryson.

However, while the illustrations promised recognisable likenesses of the celebrities they were imitating, the finished cakes were far less accurate, with viewers taking to Twitter to brand them both hilarious and nightmarish.

“Whoever is illustrating these cake bust ideas is setting the contestants up for failure,” one viewer tweeted.

Clockwise from top left: David Bowie, Lupita Nyong’o, Freddie Mercury and Louis Theroux were immortalised in cake form

“Every single one of these GBBO bust cakes is cursed,” another wrote after seeing the finished products, with a third adding: “Is anyone else going to have nightmares about these cake busts?”

Many pointed out that three hours was not enough time for the bakers to construct a 3D structure out of cake, with one fan questioning: “Is that even enough time for the cakes to cool?”

“Ah ffs, a cake bust!?”, another tweeted. “I've been a baker for 10 years and would need 20 hours minimum.”

However, the round was ultimately well received, with fans praising the show for the “absolute genius” of it.

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“I haven’t laughed so much in ages,” one viewer wrote. “The ‘bust made of cake’ challenge was hilarious - I’m so glad you’re back on the TV.”

“This #GBBO cake bust hero challenge is absolutely hilarious, like there's been a fire at Madame Tussauds,” another added.

Even Zoe Ball got involved, tweeting: “#GBBO saves 2020. Best opening episode ever. Matt Lucas. Mak’s Bill Bryson, Lottie’s LOUIS THEROUX.”

This season of The Great British Bake Off was filmed during lockdown, with the contestants asked to leave their families and friends to isolate together in a “bubble” for the duration of filming.

The season’s premiere was delayed by 15 minutes due to Boris Johnson’s televised coronavirus address. Bake Off then opened with a skit in which new presenter Matt Lucas parodied the prime minister’s speeches.

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