Tom Shines in Biscuit Week as Leighton Departs

Lead: In Biscuit Week on The Great British Baking Show Season 16 at Welford Park today, baker Tom Ardern earned Paul Hollywood’s coveted handshake and Star Baker title, while Leighton Morgan became the second contestant eliminated.

Nut Graf: The episode’s trio of technical and creative challenges pushed the remaining eleven bakers to blend precision with originality, underscoring the core of the competition and setting the tone for next week’s Baking Showdown.

Signature Challenge: Slice-and-Bake Creativity

  • Bakers had 2 hours to present 12 slice-and-bake biscuits featuring unique patterns.
  • Tom crafted a Hagia Sophia-inspired design that judges called flawless, showcasing both technique and artistry.
  • Leighton’s Orange Slices of Delight fell short, earning him the bottom ranking.

Technical Challenge: Chocolate HobNobs

  • Prue Leith tasked contestants with recreating 12 Chocolate HobNobs topped with caramel and feathered chocolate designs in 2 hours.
  • Toby delivered the top biscuit, praised for its crisp texture and balanced sweetness.
  • Several bakers, including Leighton, struggled with under-cooked centers and uneven caramel layers.

Showstopper Challenge: Time Capsule Biscuits

  • Over 4 hours, bakers built an edible “time capsule” box containing five biscuit keepsakes.
  • Tom’s grandmother’s cottage time capsule impressed with its technical polish and flavor harmony, securing his handshake and Star Baker award.
  • Pui Man, leveraging her gingerbread-house expertise, delivered a pagoda-style box that also wowed the judges.

Results and Reactions

  • Star Baker: Tom Ardern celebrated with the first Paul Hollywood handshake of the season, calling his partner immediately after.
  • Elimination: Leighton Morgan exited following a below-par performance across all three challenges.
  • Judges’ Verdict: Paul Hollywood lauded the week’s top bakes for their precision and inventiveness, while Prue Leith emphasized taste and texture.

What’s Next

The tent’s pressure intensifies as the remaining bakers head into Cake Week, where they’ll need to sustain technical excellence and creative flair to avoid early exits.