The Great British Bake Off 2017 episode 4 recap: history segments return, plus why didn't Liam get Star Baker?

It was the first ever Caramel Week in the Bake Off tent, which produced plenty of sticky moments. Here’s all the talking points from episode four.

Tom ran out of time in the tent

Sporty-but-nice Edinburgh architect Tom Hetherington began the series by saying he wanted to become the first Scot to win Bake-Off. Well, McBakers north of the border will have to wait at least another year to break their doughy duck. 

With his drawing board designs and pencil tucked behind the ear, Tom had been a Star Baker contender for the past two weeks but here, he had a caramel-filled nightmare. He failed to finish his millionaire’s shortbread, got a sweaty “stress sheen” and had to serve it still in tins. What really killed off Tom’s hopes, however, was that disastrous Hummingbird Cake showstopper. 

Paul Hollywood had raised a silvery eyebrow at its simplistic design, which featured only two types of caramel - and then the cake itself was gluey and under-baked. The judges seemed almost as disappointed as the baker himself, sighing “Oh, Tom” as they realised that they’d have to send him up the high road home. 

This week’s elimination was a battle of the blokes - jolly banker James Hillery had the narrowest escape - meaning the gender balance of the tent now tips even further in women’s favour, with five females to three men. Then again, those men include hot favourite Steven Carter-Bailey, so maybe he evens it up.

Historical films were back

Because those oh-so-BBC-ish “history of baking” films didn’t appear during the first few episodes on Channel 4, we assumed they had been quietly axed in favour of more in-tent action. And adverts.

Happily, it now seems that once a few bakers have left the tent, it frees up airtime for their welcome return. Hence co-host Noel Fielding took a trip to the Dutch town of Gouda, famed not just for its cheese but also as the birthplace of stroopwafels. Both pleasingly educational and a refreshing change of gear from all the caramel-based jeopardy.

It was another amusingly sprightly week for Fielding, who elsewhere joked that he was “part-wasp”, said Stacey’s spiced rum “tasted like pirate’s tears” and executed a perfect slapstick fall off a hedge. We also approve of anyone who can sneakily reference Nineties trip-hoppers Sneaker Pimps and construct a comic riff from those retro robotic Smash Martians.

How much caramel can one judge eat?

Quite a lot, it seems. “It’s a skill,” mumbled Paul Hollywood, as the calorie-fearing Prue Leith looked aghast at the sheer volume of sugary stuff he was putting away. Attaboy, silverback gorilla.

Paul’s solution to sweet-toothed over-indulgence? A nice, salty packet of crisps. Come on, nobody ever watched Bake Off for the healthy nutritional tips.

Star Baker prize confirms Kate’s superwoman status

Is there nothing that Scouse health & safety inspector Kate Lyon can’t do? She’s an amateur blacksmith, furniture restorer and food historian who bakes for a local homeless charity in Merseyside. Now she can add Star Baker to her densely packed CV. Kate’s still only 29, too. If she wasn’t so likeable, she’d be infuriating. 

Her Salted Bay Shortbread was aromatic, delicately patterned and perfectly textured, using bay leaves picked from her own tree (of course she’s a gardener too). A respectable midway finish in the technical kept her in “SB” contention. 

Finally, her Sticky Toffee Apple Cake showstopper was a winner, topped with brightly coloured fireworks and tasting so spectacular that Prue Leith asked for the recipe. High praise indeed. It’s a favourite of Kate’s family on Bonfire Night and got “oohs” and “aahs” in the tent too. Consistent Kate is starting to look a potential finalist. 

Prue Leith is coming into her own

Mary Berry’s replacement has grown into the role at her own suitably stately pace. Prue’s now hitting her stride and set a double Dutch technical challenge so tough that not one of the bakers properly cracked it. That’s usually Mr Nasty’s job.

The 77-year-old isn’t afraid to disagree with Paul Hollywood when they rate bakes differently - and since she has less of sweet tooth, that happened several times here. 

Prue even saw off her rivals in style stakes, thanks to a chic navy-and-white number with flirty knee-length skirt - accessorised, as always, with statement specs and chunky necklace. With Noel and Sandi both sporting printed shirts - floral-and-stripes for Sandi, neatly themed ice creams-and-cakes for Noel (by Lazy Oaf, shop-spotters) - Prue pipped them to the fashion prize.  

Meanwhile, Paul was sporting his third blue shirt in four episodes. It’s almost like the smoothie knows it brings out his eyes.

Showstoppers fit for a queen

This has already been a series of spectacular showstoppers - see Flo Atkins’ watermelon, Julia Chernogorova’s Russian doll, Chuen-Yan’s ramen noodles and, well, all of Steven’s offerings. 

There were more eye-boggling bakes here. Steven whipped up a Caramel Crown Cake in tribute to his “second favourite family”, the Royals. “Your Majesty, I present to you the crown jewels - in sugar,” he smiled. Sadly, it didn’t taste as good as it looked. 

Meanwhile, scientist Yan served up another stunner. After looking wobbly in the opening two rounds, she vowed “Never give up, never surrender” and duly delivered with her Animals of the Rainforest Cake - complete with praline forest floor, honeycomb rocks, spun-sugar trees and tiger-striped orange and chocolate sponge. Hear her roar.

Liam ran Kate closest

Baby-of-the-tent Liam Charles had his best week yet, only missing  out on Star Baker by a spun-sugar whisker. 

His Salted Peanut Butter Shortbread earned the episode’s only Hollywood handshake (“Oh my days! Crazy!” trilled the Hackney teenager), he came third in the technical and his White Chocolate & Ginger showstopper (with on-trend drippage) did him proud.

We also enjoy how “Cake Boy” adds a dash of yoof to the cosily twee marquee, by describing bakes as “Sick”, “A hot mess” and “Nom nom nom”, shrugging “Waffles innit?” and high-fiving Sandi. Junior Bake Off should sign him up as a host sharpish.

Over on Twitter, however, there was outcry when Liam didn't win:

Innuendo count was lowest yet

A distinct lack of phallic bread snails this week and indeed, an innuendo count which was the lowest in Bake Off memory. 

So slim were the sniggery pickings that producers were reduced to showing Stacey’s lament of “Not as much of an erection as I wanted” twice. Otherwise, it was just James dipping his nuts in caramel. Has the double entendre dream died?

Bake Off 2017: meet the contestants