WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

THE Great British Bake Off continued with Biscuit Week for the 11 remaining bakers.

The bakers had to tackle florentines, macaroons and a 3D task for their three challenges and also the first Paul Hollywood handshake of the series for Lottie.

Here is Sandy Docherty’s verdict of week two’s episode, as she continues her weekly Telegraph & Argus column which will be online each Wednesday morning while the series is on.

Sandy took part in the 2015 series and is the child protection and welfare officer at Titus Salt School in Baildon.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sandy Docherty has had her say on last night's Bake OffSandy Docherty has had her say on last night's Bake Off

On Biscuit Week, Sandy says:

“I always like Biscuit Week. I did really well on it when I was on the show, so I have an affinity to it.

“As I was watching it I was thinking ‘I am a little bit underwhelmed?’ But I wasn’t, I was watching 11 very talented bakers last night.”

Task 1: Florentines:

“They floated through the florentines. Not one of them was a terrible biscuit.

“I was waiting for a disaster, but I was glad there weren’t any.”

 

On Technical challenge: Macaroons:

“The technical is always a biggy. I like to see them do it. It sorts the wheat from the chaff.

“Macaroons are an old-fashioned bake. You forget how nice they are.

“They all rose to the challenge. That table did not have anything too terrible on it.

“I like window shop and gaze into butcher’s and baker’s windows to see what’s going on, even if I’m not buying anything.

“The baker’s efforts were pretty good.

“Dave was riding high, he did a good florentine.

“Lottie got a well deserved handshake from Paul, who was pretty blown away with them all.”

On Showstopper Challenge:

“I have to say, why?

“I know it’s testing skills when judges want to see moulding. It’s a challenge and competition. In a competition it does not always need to have a reason for it, it just is.

“We get these 3D biscuits in a table setting; oh right, OK. I think ‘what would I do?’ Mine was a biscuit box with biscuits inside when I did it.

“Last night, I watched them all and they all did fab. Not one was a major disaster.

“Paul thought Rowan overworked his. How do you not overwork something when you are moulding it.

“We saw airbrushing last night. I am sure they are available for every to buy now.

“We have a really good set of bakers rising to the challenge. There is a heck of a lot of talent.”

 

On the baker that left:

“Mak was a nice chap. Prue said he did not really blow her away.

“Unfortunately Mak was an incredibly talented and clever baker but he went.

“When someone leaves there is always an underlying reason. What is it about the dynamics of the tent that means somebody in particular has to go?

“It’s a shame, I sure he won’t struggle now. Did he have that umph to go that bit further in the tent? Did he have what I call that ‘tentmanship’.

“But Rowan has done really well to get another week.”

On next week:

“I’m looking forward to Bread Week. It’s always a biggy. Once again it will sort out who rises to the challenge. Paul is strict on bread.”

 

Sandy’s pick of quotes of the week:

Presenter’s quote: When Prue said to Mark: “I remember worrying about your large nuts.”

Contestant’s Lottie: “Vikings are so cool, so badass.”

Read Sandy's previous Bake Off columns:

Week 1: Cake Week