It might only be week two of Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off, but already it’s proving intense for those in the tent and those watching at home.
Viewers of this week’s The Great British Bake Off were initially pleased to welcome ex-university lecturer Jeff back after he was ill in the first episode and collapsed.
Yet the American baker’s happy return quickly turned into an emotional exit as he failed to make a start on baking shortbread biscuits.
Telling those in the tent that he felt “woozy”, he was seen walking away from his station and exiting the tent with a worried Alison Hammond coming after him.
Trying to comfort him, she told him: “You tried man. You tried.”
He was hugged by the bubbly Brummy presenter with Noel Fielding also coming out to check as Jeff declared he was ‘done’ with the competition.
As he spoke to camera and explained ‘it’s just not my year’, Channel 4 viewers at home were left emotional at his shock exit.
One person wrote on social media: “Absolute scenes in the #GBBO here, can’t believe that’s just happened.”
Another pointed out: “Seems a shame someone lost out on a place in the tent over Jeff. Maybe he was genuinely not well, but, It felt like he just didn’t want to be there anymore.”
“Jeff tried his best and that’s all that matters,” said a third.
Jeff’s short but sweet appearance still appeared to make him a viewer favourite.
The Great British Bake Off’s official website reveals that 67 year old Jeff, originally from the Bronx in New York, settled in the UK back in 1979.
He picked up the baking basics from his grandmother and great-grandmother during his childhood and started to hone his skills seriously when his own kids were young.
The exit from Jeff in week two comes as other contestants also seemed to be letting the pressure of the tent get to them.
71-year-old Hazel was seen throwing away her freshly baked biscuits into the bin as she declared: “I’m just gonna throw that lot.
“I’m just throwing them. I’m not even gonna try.”
The former nail technician-turned-baker then starts again from scratch, as others in the tent struggled to get their shortbread biscuits up to par.
Sumayah also struggled this week as she found herself baking right down to the wire.
In another part of the tent, fellow contestant Nelly was left unsure about her finished product as she admitted her biscuits have “lost their shape.”
