Great British Bake Off fans furious over major elimination twist as series returns

GREAT British Bake Off fans were left furious tonight after there was a major elimination twist, as the new series kicked off.

The Channel 4 series returned tonight with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith at the helm.

Channel 4

The Great British Bake Off returned tonight[/caption]

PA

However, a twist on the show left some fans with ruffled feathers[/caption]

Channel 4 / Love Productions

Baker Jeff had to leave halfway through the episode after ‘feeling unwell’[/caption]

The series kicked off with Cake Week which proved to be a real eye-opener for the new batch of bakers.

But it was the twist at the end that really got fans talking.

It came when Noel Fielding announced that due to contestant Jeff having to leave the episode because he was unwell, “no one would be leaving the tent tonight”.

Although the former university lecturer’s illness wasn’t specified, viewers were told he would be “back next week”.

A show source told us: “Jeff was gutted to miss out on the second day but they weren’t feeling up to it and so they had to sit it out.”

However, fans were left fuming that no one was given the boot tonight.

One fumed: “I didn’t see that coming? Why has no one left?”

While this one said: “That’s not fair! Someone should be leaving?”

Another added: “So now two people have to leave it once?”

As no one left Bake off tonight, Noel warned them there would be the “possibility” of a double eviction at some point in the series.

It wasn’t all bad news, as NHS support manager John was named the show’s first Star Baker of the series.

And in a real shock move from judge Paul, midwife Illiyin was given the first Hollywood Golden Handshake of the series.

The first episode brought another fresh twist to the Technical challenge.

It came after the bakers were asked to replicate a battenberg cake from scratch, without a recipe to guide them.

Channel 4

Judge Paul Hollywood shocked fans on tonight’s Bake Off[/caption]

Over the years the bakers have always been given a recipe to complete the Technical – but that’s not the case anymore.

Host Alison Hammond revealed: “Each week the bakers will face a gingham-clad secret second challenge but this time there’s an extra surprise awaiting them.”

Co-host Noel continued: “This is a taste and bake challenge.

“You have five minutes to inspect your cake and then you have to recreate it with no recipe.”

Bake Off continues next Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.