The Great British Bake Off 2023 cast reunited in full for the first time since filming on Tuesday night as they hosted a viewing party for Party Week.
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.
The bakers posed for a group photo holding photobooth props, while a cheeky Keith posed with a Paul Hollywood face mask – although the real judge was nowhere to be seen.
Sharing snaps of the reunited bakers, Abbi wrote on Instagram: ‘It was so much fun to get together with all my baking family again last night for Party Week!
Wholesome: The Great British Bake Off cast has reunited in full as they watched the Party Week episode
Fun times: The bash was completed by baker Keith Barron wearing a Paul Hollywood mask – although the real judge was nowhere to be seen
‘I have missed you guys so much. The four hours of sleep and seven hour drive were so worth it.’
Meanwhile, Nicky added: ‘It feels like we have never been apart.’
Fans were left ecstatic at their reunion, which appeared to have a ‘Bakers in Wonderland’ theme, with the room decorated with playing cards.
One said: ‘Such a fan and amazing cast!!!!!’ while another said: ‘This makes my heart happy!’
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.
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.
Exciting: Fans were happy that the cast have remained firm friends since filming
Sweet treats: The bakers had personalised caterpillar cakes – in honour of Party Week’s technical challenge
Wow: Baker Dana Conway looked stunning as she posed for snaps at the ‘Bakers In Wonderland’ themed gathering
The girls: Saku, Nicky, Cristy, Dana and Abbi
The boys! Dan, Keith, Amos, Matty, Josh – and Tasha’s BSL interpreter Daryl
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.’
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.
Raising a glass: The bakers all made a ‘cheers’ to their time on the show
Oh no! Great British Bake Off fans slammed the judges decision to send Cristy home during Tuesday night’s quarter final
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
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.
