The Great British Bake Off lost two bakers during Tuesday night’s Bread Week, although only one departure came as the result of the judges’ decision. It was already a difficult week in the tent, with the bakers tackling garlic bread for the signature before a flatbread technical that went badly wrong for almost everyone. Paul Hollywood went as far as calling it “probably the worst technical” he had seen in 17 years of Bake Off, with raw dough causing problems across the tent.

By the end of the episode, one baker had been eliminated following the showstopper, while another had made the decision to leave the competition for personal reasons.

Who Left The Great British Bake Off 2026?

Molly became the third baker eliminated from The Great British Bake Off 2026, bringing her time in the tent to an end after Bread Week. The 31-year-old accessibility co-ordinator had struggled across the challenges and was sent home following the judges’ final decision. Speaking after her elimination, Molly said she was sad to leave but felt it was the right time, adding that she was proud of what she had achieved and had learned to put less pressure on herself while baking.

Molly also said she had wanted to make it as far as Biscuit Week and Bread Week, and was happy to have had the chance to bake alongside her husband during her time on the programme.

Why Did Nikki Leave Bake Off?

The episode also saw Nikki withdraw from the competition after learning that her mother was critically ill. Nikki left during the week and was unable to complete two of the three challenges. Explaining her decision afterwards, she said there was nowhere else she wanted or needed to be and that spending her mother’s final days with her was the most important thing in the world. She added that despite such a difficult time, she remained grateful for the memories she had made in the tent and for the chance to take part in the series.

It meant Bread Week ended with two bakers leaving for completely different reasons, reducing the number of contestants remaining in the competition ahead of next week’s episode.

Who Was Star Baker During Bread Week?

Tom had a much happier week, earning Star Baker for the second time this series after impressing Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson across the three bread challenges.

The episode began with the bakers creating their ultimate garlic breads before the technical asked them to make flatbreads topped with roasted grapes and blue cheese. That challenge quickly became one of the roughest technicals the tent has seen, with multiple bakers serving underbaked bread and Nigella struggling with some of the results.

For the showstopper, the contestants were asked to create an enriched bread display built around a celebratory theme, with Tom’s work ultimately putting him at the top of the week.

For CultureCues, this was such a difficult episode to watch for completely different reasons. We were sad to see Molly go, especially after hearing how proud she was of everything she had achieved in the tent, and Nikki’s reason for leaving puts the competition completely into perspective. Sending so much love to her and her family. Bread Week itself was also a bit of a disaster at points, and Paul calling the technical the worst in 17 years of Bake Off probably says everything you need to know.

The Great British Bake Off continues on Tuesday 20 October at 8pm on Channel 4.

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