The Great British Bake Off 2016: What to expect from Botanical Week in the tent

Can Candice make it a star baker hat-trick?

The competition is hotting up as the Great British Bake Off enters its sixth week

(PA)

It’s flower power in the Great British Bake Off tent this evening as the first ever Botanical Week challenges our bakers to create edible floral masterpieces.

Judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood will be tasking the remaining contenders to make a “classic with a twist” in the signature, demanding a strong grasp on sharp citrus flavours and “perfect peaks”.

The technical has been teased as a “leafy challenge” set by Paul (your guess is as good as ours…) before the botanical showstopper puts the bakers through new levels of culinary stress as they are asked to produce three tiers of beautifully flavoured and elaborately decorated sponge, complete with stunning floral designs.

Throughout this sixth episode, the bakers will be given free reign to choose any ingredients that grow in order to cram their bakes full of natural goodness. So, expect plenty of herbs, flowers and fruit.

Last week’s pastry challenges saw former primary school headteacher Val leave the show, while PE teacher Candice Brown was crowned star baker for the second time. Candice is accompanied in Botanical Week by Benjamina, Rav, Andrew, Jane, Selasi and Tom, with the competition still looking pretty open so far.

Engineer Andrew had a narrow escape last week after failing to turn the oven on for a whole 20 minutes while baking his Bakewell tart for Mary. Val, meanwhile was shown the door after baking hers without using the recipe, resulting in a soggy bottom.

The Great British Bake Off airs on Wednesdays at 8pm on BBC1, followed by An Extra Slice on Fridays at 9.30pm on BBC2