Debbie Hall reviews The Great British Bake Off 2014 episode eight (BBC One, Wednesday, September 25).
So, Hull's born and "bread" Nancy Birtwhistle is supposed to have caused shockwaves around the nation by employing a microwave to prove her dough for a Lincolnshire plum braid.
I think, rather, that 60-year-old Nancy, who confirmed her city roots on the same day she made it through to the semi-finals of the Great British Bake Off, was proving a point.
You don't get to be a granny of eight and not learn to make life a little easier on yourself. And if that means, shock, horror, using what is now an everyday kitchen appliance to speed things along a little, well who the heck are we to criticise? Even if blue-eyed boy of bread Paul Hollywood did declare it "dangerous".
Yes, there were some raised eyebrows in the Bake Off tent when Nancy's plum braid (she was careful not to sway into Lincolnshire plum bread territory) came out of the oven and prompted presenter Sue Perkins to remark that it was the size of a labrador.
Hollywood said it was a "bad bake", but he did deign to taste Nancy's technical challenge offering, a Croatian Povitica (our Nance had employed the microwave again to soften the nutty, chocolatey filling) while he steered fellow judge Mary Berry away from three of the other bakes, rejecting them out of hand for their raw innards.
Video: Nancy Birtwhistle meets Hull City's Tom Huddlestone
And what's with the section of the public who have helped Bake Off rise to unexpected heights of viewing popularity but have now started knocking it for the innuendo they reckon it's riddled with? Frankly, these torrents of complaints to the Beeb must come from people who have dirty minds. I've made bread and I know what it is to have pride in your floury baps. Absolutely no smut intended.![]()
HULL BORN AND BREAD: Nancy in her City shirt.
Star baker for an unprecedented fourth time was builder Richard who took on the challenges of advanced dough week with gusto. He made a classic Chelsea bun for the signature challenge and rustled up some toffee apple doughnuts for the showstopper section, after faltering in the technical challenge.
Video: Nancy Birtwhistle meets Hull City's Tom Huddlestone
And what's with the section of the public who have helped Bake Off rise to unexpected heights of viewing popularity but have now started knocking it for the innuendo they reckon it's riddled with? Frankly, these torrents of complaints to the Beeb must come from people who have dirty minds. I've made bread and I know what it is to have pride in your floury baps. Absolutely no smut intended.
HULL BORN AND BREAD: Nancy in her City shirt.Star baker for an unprecedented fourth time was builder Richard who took on the challenges of advanced dough week with gusto. He made a classic Chelsea bun for the signature challenge and rustled up some toffee apple doughnuts for the showstopper section, after faltering in the technical challenge.
Young Martha bit the crust this week with a leaky plum loaf recipe in the signature, a raw Povitica in the technical and over-proved doughnuts that turned out more like pancakes in the showstopper. She cried, again, but Mary said she was sure she would be seeing Martha again. Roll on the semi-finals and grand final of Bake Off. I'll be avidly watching and hopefully taking on board Nancy's unconventional shortcuts right to the finish line.
