Alison Hammond pulls out of the Great British Bake Off semi-finals
Alison Hammond pulled out of the Great British Bake Off semi-finals on Tuesday.
Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood returned to judge the bakes, while Noel Fielding hosted the show alone.
For this week's Bake Off theme, it was all about patisserie week, with the remaining contestants tackling an elegant French patisserie Signature, a tricky Technical and an Italian celebration cake.
But at the beginning of the episode, it was announced that Alison was absent due to feeling unwell.
Noel said: 'Welcome back to the tent! Unfortunately, today Alison is a little bit poorly, so she won't be joining us, but she'll back soon.'
Sad: Alison Hammond pulled out of the Great British Bake Off semi-finals on Tuesday
The shows official Twitter account posted: 'Sadly Alison was unwell and not able to take part in the filming of the Semi Final - but we can assure you she shall return for the Bake Off Final!'
The shows official Twitter account posted: 'Sadly Alison was unwell and not able to take part in the filming of the Semi Final - but we can assure you she shall return for the Bake Off Final!'
Alison is expected to return for The Great British Bake Off final, which will air on Tuesday November 28.
The quarter-final episode proved a controversial one as Christy was sent home after a tense showstopper challenge to make an 'anything but beige' buffet.
With just two episodes left, remaining bakers Tasha, Josh, Dan and Matt will battle it out to become this year's champion.
Although Cristy's exit was met with disappointment on Tuesday night, it wasn't all doom and gloom as Matty received Star Baker and his first Hollywood Handshake for his impressive bakes, leaving viewers elated.
Going solo: Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood returned to judge the bakes, while Noel Fielding hosted the show alone
Oh no! Great British Bake Off fans slammed the judges decision to send Cristy home during Tuesday night's quarter final
Party Week saw the bakers take on a classic celebration treat, a 'multi-legged' technical and a show-stopping spread in a bid to impress the judges.
The Signature challenge saw the contestants make 12 sausage rolls, with a filling of their choice, while the Technical challenge tasked them with creating a classic chocolate caterpillar cake.
Next up, for the Showstopper, the baker's had to impress with an 'anything but beige buffet' consisting of a mix of savoury and sweet snacks.
Paul and Prue were torn between sending home Dan and Cristy home from the tent and ultimately decided to say goodbye to Cristy.
She said: 'It's been such a crazy fast paced experience. Now I'm going to sit back and reflect on how far I've some, I'm so proud of myself for making it this far.'
Well done! But luckily, it wasn't all doom and gloom as Matty received Star Baker and his first Hollywood Handshake for his impressive bakes, leaving viewers elated
Upon receiving star baker Matty added: 'I hope this gives me the confidence that I needed to take on the semi-finals and hopefully beyond.'
While fans at home were elated with the judges choice to award Star Baker to Matty, many believed that Dan should have been sent home instead of Cristy.
One shared: 'Yay Matty!! But surely Dan should have been sent home?!'
Another agreed: 'Well done Matty, wrong person went though.'
The Great British Bake Off returns on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2023: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
Tasha
Age: 27
Occupation: Participation officer
From: Bristol
Bake Off presenters have learnt sign language as the show welcomes its first ever deaf contestant.
Tasha, 27, is a participation officer from Bristol and will be joining the show with her BSL interpreter, Daryl.
She said: 'When I had the Zoom call to tell me I was one of the 12, I cried. Daryl also cried. We were a mess.'
Amos
Age: 43
Occupation: Deli and grocery manager
From: North London
Amos describes his bakes as a labour of love – his style is colourful and chic with keen attention to detail, and he loves exploring different flavour profiles.
He compares his baking style to the converted church that he now lives in, calling both his style and home 'traditional with a modern twist'.
Rowan
Age: 21
Occupation: University student
From: West Yorkshire
'Go big, or go home' is student Rowan's motto, and one that he has always applied to his bakes.
A student of English literature, when he's not writing up a storm, Rowan is also a keen host, applying his creative eye to his cooking.
Abbi
Age: 27
Occupation: Vegetable grower and delivery driver
From: Cumbria
A lover of the great outdoors, she forages for seasonal ingredients and puts her homegrown veg to good use.
Abbi's bakes aim to combine comfort and familiarity with a strong nod towards nature, and a feeling of creating something magical – bakes with a touch of fairytale.
Cristy
Age: 33
Occupation: PA
From: East London
For Cristy, life with four children means that there always seems to be a birthday to bake for and an exciting party to plan.
She describes her baking style as enchanted and pretty – bakes that conjure up a sense of childhood.
Dan
Age: 42
Occupation: Civil engineering resource planner
From: Cheshire
Perfectionist Dan loves a baking challenge and will often find the hardest bake in one of his 300 cook books.
When he's not baking, he loves to play football with his two young sons or forage for edible treats in the countryside.
Dana
Age: 25
Occupation: Database administrator
From: Essex
She loves a semi-naked cake with neat lines, pretty piping and minimalist decoration; and although she likes to keep her flavours safe, Dana will often incorporate a twist or two, adding in familiar spices associated with her Indian heritage.
Josh
Age: 27
Occupation: Post-doctoral research associate
From: Leicestershire
Post-doctoral research associate Josh is a chemist by trade and brings his scientist's precision and keenness to experiment into the kitchen, taking careful notes on each part of the baking process.
Keith
Age: 60
Occupation: Chartered accountant
From: Hampshire
Keith has a penchant for apple pies and fairy cakes – which he learned to bake with his mum.
The treats form the baking backdrop to Keith's childhood, along with his mum's love for traditional dishes from her home in Malta.
Matty
Age: 28
Occupation: PE and science teacher
From: Cambridgeshire
He describes his style as rustic but neat, and his flavour preferences as quite traditional – he particularly loves chocolate, citrus and nuts.
Once his days in the tent are over, his nex challenge will be to make his own wedding cake.
Nicky
Age: 52
Occupation: Retired cabin crew and volunteer
From: West Midlands
Her favourite bakes are pastries, but she also loves making fun birthday cakes for her niece and grandchildren.
When she's not baking, Nicky volunteers for a pet-therapy charity along with her dog Bracken and loves to ski, which she has been doing since she was only three years old.
Saku
Age: 50
Occupation: Intelligence analyst
From: Herefordshire
At her family home in Sri Lanka, Saku didn't have an oven until she was 18, so she turned to baking only when she moved with her husband to the UK, in 2003.
Self-taught, she relishes using her homegrown ingredients from her vegetable patch.
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