The Great British Bake Off - Series 4, Episode 8 'Quarter Finals' (Review)

It was the quarter-finals of the Great British Bake Off Series 4 last night, and from this day forth it shall be known as the day everyone wept. There were tears all around the tent, and more than usual as both Beca, Frances and Christine sobbed as they all faced eviction after their lacklustre show-stoppers. Paul and Mary were feeling unusually harsh as they hammered down their judgements onto the bakers, as everyone seemed to revert back to their own ways. Frances (who by now should really be focusing on the TASTE of her bakes) chose style over substance with her showstopper - a 'hidden' carrot cake, which looked quite frankly, ghastly and unappetizing anyway. Seriously, it's a mound of dirt. Don't believe me? See below. 

 Edible dirt. Lovely. Needless to say Mary wasn't too pleased the little plant pots weren't edible and both Paul and Mary weren't a fan of the flavour. Uh-Oh. However, Frances' performance earlier with her Chelsea buns managed to save her from elimination. What a pity. I do hope she comes back next week and actually focuses on the flavour(?!). Making an appearance for Team Despair is Ruby, who just about managed to give herself a compliment this week, and earned herself first in the technical - as well as Star Baker. It was between her and Kimberley, and the young student just managed to clinch it by coming one space up in the technical. Ruby made her first specifically decorative piece - an allotment shed type-thing. Here it is below:

 Let's just say it looks far more appetizing than the soil above. Kimberely was back to her usual self (thank god) and produced a lovely little toadstool house for her showstopper. It was rather pretty, and had she got first in the technical, she probably would have be crowned Star Baker, but congratulations to Ruby anyhow. 

Poor Beca made the fatal error Ali made, of not actually practising her showstopper beforehand, and needless to say Paul described it as extremely 'bland.' So, so bland. And dull. So, yeah...maybe it didn't go as well as she had hoped. This put her firmly in the firing line - but she managed to stay, as Christine has scored last in the technical, and had also done pretty badly with her guitar, which was also bland. So 0/10 for taste all around? Beca made a pretty simple cheese style novelty showstopper cake complete with fondant mice.

Sadly, poor Christine had to go as her guitar didn't hit any high notes for Mary and Paul, who complimented the passion-fruit Icing, but said there wasn't nearly enough, and that the cake itself had no flavour. 

Scoring last in the technical meant that Christine had to go. Everyone burst into tears over her departure and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Except maybe Paul. So, with Beca, Kimberely, Ruby and Frances through to Week 9's Semi-Final, which is 'savoury canape' week, who do you think will crumble under the pressure? And did you think Christine deserved to go this week?

Reviewed by Mel.