GBBO star sparks ‘fix’ controversy

GBBO

by Ruby Norris |
Updated on

The Great British Bake Off has been hit with 'fix' claims as it's been revealed one of the contestants has already starred in a TV cooking show...

The Bake Off is BACK and if you didn't spend the entirety of last night's episode gorging on an array of sweet treats and planning to embark on a new career as a biscuit taster then, quite frankly, you were doing it all wrong.

But while most of the nation were drooling over the contestants' first bakes in the famous tent, some eagle-eyed viewers may have seen a familiar face amongst this year's batch of bakers.

Manon Lagreve, whose biscuit selfie and near-perfect Wagon Wheels one over Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, has caused quite the stir in the baking world as it turns out GBBO isn't her first TV endeavour.

Manon
©Channel 4/GBBO

Manon was named Star Baker in the first episode of the series, however the fact she previously appeared on BBC1's The Box - a cooking show hosted by celebrity chef James Martin - has sparked some viewers to brand Bake Off as 'fixed'.

“Bake Off is all about normal people who enjoy creating food masterpieces being plucked from nowhere to try and become Britain’s top amateur baker," a source told The Sun.

They added: "“For one person to have been in a TV environment before gives them a huge advantage. It’s all a bit unfair.”

Gallery

CLOSER GBBO cast 2018 (slider)

rahul1 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Rahul, 30, research scientist

Rahul was born in India and moved to England age 23 on a University scholarship. He describes his style of baking as 'east meets west'.

Kim-Joy, 27, mental health specialist2 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Kim-Joy, 27, mental health specialist

Kim-Joy says her English-Chinese-Malaysian heritage is reflected in her baking. She applied for the show to boost her confidence.

Luke, 30, Civil servant/ house and techno DJ3 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Luke, 30, Civil servant/ house and techno DJ

Luke, from Sheffield, has been baking since the age of 10.

Imelda, 33, countryside recreation officer4 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Imelda, 33, countryside recreation officer

Imelda hails from Northern Ireland, and was taught to cook by her mother.

Dan, 36, full-time dad5 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Dan, 36, full-time dad

Speaking about his decision to apply for Bake Off, Dan said: 'I've been at home looking after the kids for the last six years, so it was a chance to do something for myself. With my youngest starting school, I'm now ready to rejoin the world of adults."

Ruby, 29, project manager6 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Ruby, 29, project manager

Ruby's baking has been inspired by her Indian mother's sweets.

Antony, 30, banker7 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Antony, 30, banker

Antony described himself as a 'Bollywood Baker'. He says: "My friends back home in India will be really surprised. They have known me to be a singer in a choir, a two-piece band but never as a baker, so it will be interesting to see their reaction."

Briony, 33, full-time mum8 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Briony, 33, full-time mum

Briony, from Bristol, learnt all her baking skills from YouTube videos.

Terry, 56, retired9 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Terry, 56, retired

Terry owns a microbrewery and an allotment - and will be bringing items from these to the Bake Off tent.

Jon, 47, blood courier10 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Jon, 47, blood courier

Jon says: 'I bake as often as I can, several times a week, mainly in the day while my wife and children are at school as I get some peace that way! The tent is far easier than my kitchen."

Manon, 26, software project manager11 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Manon, 26, software project manager

Manon, who is originally from France, says: "When me and my best friend came to England, Bake Off was one of the first shows we watched together on TV. My closest girlfriends have always rooted for me and supported me throughout my baking journey."

Karen, 60, in-store sampling assistant12 of 12
CREDIT: Mark Bourdillan / Love Productions

Karen, 60, in-store sampling assistant

Karen was encouraged to apply for the show by her daughter. She says: "I want to be more free and flamboyant. I really want to do this for me and I thought it was the right time to step up and have fun."

What do you make of the fact Manon has appeared on another cooking show? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

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In other GBBO news, viewers were in hysterics over a very 'rude' biscuit.

Paul and Prue were left red faced when baker stay-at-home dad Dan Beasley-Harling presented his 'selfie' biscuit to them in the opening episode of this year's GBBO.

The sentiment behind the design was sweet: it was supposed to resemble the time he travelled to Palm Springs to meet his surrogate baby.

But people in the tent - and at home - had VERY different ideas of what he was holding in his arms in the biscuit's design.

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