Great British Bake Off: Contestant ‘heartbroken’ after elimination in dessert week

Yannis has become the fifth contestant eliminated from The Great British Bake Off after reaching the end of the road on the series.

The tension mounted during dessert week as bakers were tasked, for the first time, with a staggered-start signature challenge focused on self-saucing puddings.

Judge Nigella Lawson set the technical challenge, requiring contestants to select ingredients from The Gingham Pantry to personalise their respective bakes. For the showstopper, those remaining in the tent attempted to present an array of classic retro puddings.

Co-host Noel Fielding declared Connie as the week’s star baker, before Alison Hammond confirmed to Yannis, 28, that he was going home.

Following his elimination, the paediatric doctor said: “Thank you, it has been a pleasure. I grew up watching this programme and being here for five weeks is surreal. I will be very proud of that and it’s been absolutely wonderful.”

When asked how it felt to leave the show, Yannis added: “It was definitely bittersweet. I was heartbroken to leave my Bake Off family, but there was also a strange sense of relief.

Yannis was voted off on Tuesday night
Yannis was voted off on Tuesday night (Channel 4/Love Productions/Patch Dolan)

“Filming incredibly long hours in a challenging tent while juggling my full-time job, often doing 12-hour shifts and nights was exhausting, so my body was definitely ready for a break.

“Everyone surrounded me with hugs and so much love, and then I flew to Spain for my best friend’s wedding the next week – which was probably the perfect way to soften the blow.”

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Asked to name his least favourite challenge, Yannis said: “The Technicals. I’m someone who likes to plan, practice and know exactly what I’m doing, so being handed a mysterious recipe, sometimes with no recipe at all, or with half the instructions missing is basically my worst nightmare.

“I aged approximately five years during every Technical.”

Yannis, who was born in Vienna and now resides in London, cited hugging Lawson and fellow judge Paul Hollywood as his standout moment.

Yannis is the fifth contestant to leave the tent this year, after Danni, Shannon, Molly and Nikki left in previous weeks.

The Great British Bake Off continues next Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.