Great British Bake Off 2018 LIVE: Manon named star baker as Imelda becomes first contestant to leave the show

All the latest from the Berkshire-based tent

Great British Bake Off 2018 Trailer

Britain’s most beloved baking show is finally back! Bake Off returned with a batch of new contestants hoping to win over Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith’s taste buds.

The second series to air on Channel 4 kicked off with biscuit week and saw the 12 newcomers tasked with creating a set of traditional biscuits inspired by something personal to them. A gentle enough start – unlike the technical challenge, which featured some devilishly tricky marshmallow-making as the new dozen were asked to make wagon wheels.

Following a difficult showstopper that saw the bakers make selfie biscuits, France's own Manon was voted star baker, while Imelda was voted out (narrowly losing to Terry).

The Independent live-blogged along all the action from the Berkshire-based tent below. Catch up on everything that happened below – please give the live-blog a moment to load.

The Independent recently ran through everything we learnt from a preview screening of the first episode, also including some tantalising snippets of news about the upcoming series from Prue and Paul. (Spoiler: Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding are back and better than ever.)

You can also learn more about each of the new contestants by flicking through the below gallery.

Bake Off airs Tuesday on Channel 4 at 8pm.

[28 August 2018 14:01 · Andrew Buncombe]

Hello and welcome to The Independent's Bake Off live-blog, bringing you all the latest from Channel 4's version of the beloved show. First, make sure you catch up on everything we know about the first episode below by reading our spoiler-free article below...

[28 August 2018 14:51 · Andrew Buncombe]

Yes, that's Noel and Sandi dressed as Doc and Marty from Back to the Future...

[28 August 2018 15:30 · Andrew Buncombe]

Warning: Prue begins by promising to be much “tougher” this series. 

“I felt a lot more relaxed and confident this time around. I have been straighter, found it easier to say ‘that’s not a proper bake’,” she said during a Q&A last week.

“Last series I said lots of things that were nice before anything nasty. Paul is always saying ‘Don’t talk around so much, just say it.’”

[28 August 2018 15:55 · Andrew Buncombe]

You can find out more about the 12 contestants by flicking through the gallery below this live-blog...

[28 August 2018 16:35 · Andrew Buncombe]

Even though the new fab four only have one series under their belts, Paul has said it “feels like we have been working with each other for years” while Prue added that the success of the Channel 4 version of Bake Off was a “huge relief”.

“When they first hired me, I did not realise what a national treasure Bake Off was,” she told an audience. “I only got nervous when I started reading what the press wrote. But what I like doing most is eating good food. I’ve judged food all my life, so I was never nervous about the job. A little nervous about Paul Hollywood.”

[28 August 2018 17:30 · Andrew Buncombe]

A common question asked by Bake Off fans: what happened to last year’s winner?

Answer: While Sophie Faldo may not have yet enjoyed the same national celebrity status as Nadiya Hussain, she has enjoyed a continued successful baking career working as a pastry chef at a Michelin starred restaurant. Former track cyclist champion and stuntwoman-in-training Faldo has also become an ambassador for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

[28 August 2018 18:28 · Andrew Buncombe]

Another question we've been asked: will An Extra Slice be back?

Answer: Yes! Jo Brand's spin-off show will air on Friday on Channel 4 at 8pm. Bake Off super-fans who are inspired by the week's episode to have a go at the technical challenge can send pictures of their own bakes in to be judged by Jo: extraslice@loveproductions.co.uk. 

[28 August 2018 19:30 · Andrew Buncombe]

Just half an hour to go until tonight's episode kick starts. And just in case you need a little reminder of how Bake Off works then read our primer here.

[28 August 2018 19:52 · Andrew Buncombe]

10 minutes until Bake Off! Which baker will rise to the top of the competition and be named tonight's star baker? We'll soon find out.

[28 August 2018 19:58 · Andrew Buncombe]

Just a couple of minutes to go. Get those ovens ready!