Great British Bake Off spoilers follow.
Bake Off's dessert week claimed another baker who struggled to impress the judges.
One person who had no problem wowing Prue and Paul was baker Dylan, who had a hat-trick of a week having aced all three challenges, earning himself the title of Star Baker. Sadly, for another baker, it signalled the end.
Here's who said a regrettable goodbye in this week's episode of Bake Off – and all those who left before them.
Who left Bake Off this week?
Having had the opposite luck of Dylan, it was Sumayah Kazi's turn to exit the Bake Off tent. The youngest baker struggled through all three challenges with flavour combos that divided the judges in her signature challenge and unanimously disappointed them in her showstopper. Her technical also fell flat when her spotted dick came out raw and stodgy.
It was the perfect storm that paved the way to her departure despite achieving Star Baker last week.
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Thanking her fellow bakers in her farewell letter posted on X/Twitter, Sumayah wrote: "What can I say? To all my fellow bakers who made the experience what it was, they're my second family. We had the best laughs (and cries) together and I can't imagine life without you all now."
She went on to say: "Bake Off has been the most wonderful experience of my life and I'm so grateful to be part of it," stating that the competition had given her "a newfound sense of confidence."
"I left the Tent with the biggest smile on my face," she concluded. "Thanks for allowing this dream of mine to come true."
Who's left Bake Off 2024 so far?
Nelly Ghaffar
What Bake Off fans have feared most has come to pass, Nelly Ghaffar, the icon, has been eliminated.
You may be tempted to shed all the tears but hold them back, as Nelly told her fellow contestants: "Don't cry. It's time to celebrate."
And let's face it, there's much to celebrate as her Bake Off journey has been incredible – even if it did end far too soon.
Sadly, during this autumnal challenge week, Nelly's exquisite-tasting apple and poppy seed pie was not enough to save her from elimination. Her technical challenge was also middling, but it was the showstopper that let her down.
While the judges praised the design, Paul branded the taste poor when he said: "I didn't like the flavour at all." And just like that, Nelly was guilty of the cardinal Bake Off sin, style over substance.
This seemed to be the only thing that saved Dylan, who was also on the chopping block this week. His celebration cake may have lacked the festive pizzazz required, but the taste was undeniably good.
Nelly exited the competition as she began, with a bountiful amount of charisma and cheer jokingly stating: "I'm not going anywhere!" after her elimination.
She added: "It's not a commiseration. It's a positive. I never, ever [thought] I would get to round six. For me, everything from above round three was a bonus game.
"I know my children are so proud. Maybe I only [came] sixth place but you know what? It's not [about teaching] them to win, it's [about teaching] them to enjoy."
"In each of your hearts is a piece of Nelly, and you're never going to forget me."
She continued this sentiment online where she posted on X: "What a rollercoaster it was? Did you enjoy it? Because I did!! Thank you for all love and support. P.S. this is not the end, only the beginning. I will be back."
Andy Ryan
It was burnt bakes and soggy bottoms for Andy Ryan, who was bested by week five's pastry challenge. The car mechanic with a flair for baking exited the tent after a bad showing during all three challenges.
"[I'm] just sad," said Andy when he learned he was going home. "I've had such a fantastic time. I've had so many laughs but that's the standard. C'est la vie."
He followed this up with a post on X/Twitter where he added: "I may have ended my journey with a tear and not quite how I was expecting to but I will certainly be baking 'Everlong' (Foo Fighters tune!)
"I'm sad I never left with a handshake, Star Baker, winning Technical or even a Paul pat.
"To be embraced by all the Bake Off family and all the amazing fans is overwhelming and has filled me with love and joy. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Big love always, Andy."
His cheeky quips and backwards cap will no doubt be missed by the fans who expressed their disappointment online over his departure halfway through the competition.
"Tears actually rolled down my cheeks [going to] miss Andy," wrote one vieweruser.
"Awww we were rooting for you Andy. Next week's show won't be the same," said another.
Mike Wilkins
The fourth contestant to be eliminated from Bake Off was Mike Wilkins. It was neck-and-neck between Mike and the tent's youngest baker Sumayah, who had her own fumbles. But in the end, it was Mike who struggled the most during Caramel Week.
The 29-year-old farmhand said a teary goodbye to his fellow Bake Off comrades while admitting he was "going to miss everyone."
During his to-camera speech at the end, Mike shared that he felt it was his "time to go", before saying: "I'm just this little farmhand who does a bit of baking in the kitchen. Everybody else was so incredible. I feel like the quality of what everyone else is doing is just breathtaking."
Mike extended this sentiment on X/Twitter, where he posted a letter thanking the contestants, judges and hosts for the experience.
He ended it by saying: "I just hope that I haven't let anyone down and that everyone has enjoyed watching a fraction as much as I have enjoyed being here! GBBO you have my heart! Sending oodles of love, hugs and thanks, Mike."
The official Bake Off account was quick to lovingly correct Mike, insisting that he'd not let anyone down.
This was endorsed by fans, with one user responding: "You've not let anyone down! You're awesome and [have been such a joy] to everyone. Thank you for being you and for sharing yourself and your bakes."
John Mincher
Ahead of Bake Off's season 15 debut, John had stated that while his strengths were "certainly cake-related," bread was not the "strongest aspect of [his] baking," and sadly that proved to be true.
The 37-year-old baker from the West Midlands was eliminated during Bread Week thanks in part to a bad batch of bagels, despite previously impressing the judges during Biscuit Week and even being the first to get Star Baker.
"It's fine – it was expected," John said when the news broke that he would be leaving. "It was just a bad week. It's just how it is, because everybody is so talented, if you drop the ball it's your time to go."
A few tears were shed but he insisted they were "tears of pride".
Hazel Vaughan
After week one saw no contestants being eliminated from the show, Hazel was the first official Bake Off contestant to bid the gang a sorrowful goodbye. The former nail tech and grandmother to 10 crumbled during Biscuit Week.
"I felt really sad as I didn't get the chance to show what I could really bake or show my skills," she said after her Viennese sandwich biscuits and biscuit puppet theatre failed to meet Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood's standards,
However, she admitted: "I did expect it – all my bakes have gone wrong. Maybe I won't bake puppet theatres anymore."
Jeff
Bronx-born baker Jeff said farewell ahead of Hazel, and was the first baker to leave the competition due to ill health.
The former university lecturer exited mid-way through the technical challenge during Biscuit Week, stating: "This time around just wasn't right for me. I really enjoyed it.
"Everyone has been wonderful, you've got a great group of bakers in there. Alright, I didn't make it very far, but there you go."
For more on what happened to Jeff, read here.
The Great British Bake Off and its spin-off Bake Off: An Extra Slice both air on Channel 4 in the UK. In the US, it's known as The Great British Baking Show, and streams on Netflix.
Read more Great British Bake Off news on our dedicated homepage
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
