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Diana Beard has left the Great British Bake Off tent due to illness, BBC producers have confirmed.
The 69-year-old Women's Institute member quit the show after losing her sense of smell and taste the night before episode five was filmed.
The BBC said Diana's exit this was "not connected in any way" to the Baked Alaska scandal of episode four that viewers witnessed last night.
Diana, who is the oldest contestant to ever take part in the series, was attacked on social media after she took fellow contestant Iain Watters' ice-cream out of the freezer during the all-important final task.
Iain became enraged when his dessert was left runny and stormed out, only to return and present his creation in the bin. The 'bingate' hashtag was born and it was announced that Iain would be leaving the competition.
The worst Bake Off gaffes
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Despite the dramatic events of the latest instalment, the Bake Off was shot last spring, meaning that recent controversy would not have affected Diana's decision to leave.
Nevertheless, the BBC received 556 complaints from viewers arguing that Diana should have left instead of Iain.
Earlier today, Diana broke down in an interview and claimed she had been "stitched up" and made a scapegoat by the show's editor.
"Why would I want to sabotage Iain's Baked Alaska?" she told the BBC. "Iain does not hold me responsible for his failed ice cream. He rang me three days ago to warn me that the knives were out."
The BBC also rushed to Diana's defence, insisting that the offending ice-cream removal lasted "less than a minute" and was "in no way responsible for Iain's departure".
Paul Hollywood also took to Twitter to put an end to the drama, tweeting '#enoughnow' and adding that his fellow judge Mary Berry would be "upset" at all the debate.
FAQs
Diana Beard, the Great British Bake Off contestant at the centre of the "Bingate" controversy has slammed the "misleading" editing of the programme and insisted she left the show due to illness. Beard tells The Guardian that she withdrew because she lost her sense of taste and smell after fainting in a restaurant.
Why did Diana Beard leave Bake Off? ›
The 69-year-old Women's Institute member quit the show after losing her sense of smell and taste the night before episode five was filmed. The BBC said Diana's exit this was "not connected in any way" to the Baked Alaska scandal of episode four that viewers witnessed last night.
Why did Diane leave GBBO? ›
Results summary. ^[a] Diana left the show after episode 4 due to illness. Her departure was announced at the start of episode 5.
Why did Noel Fielding leave Bake Off? ›
The comedian shocked fans earlier this month by announcing he was quitting the show after three series. He explained that it had become too much of a struggle juggling his various TV commitments. “Farewell Bake Off!” he wrote in a statement.
Who left Bake Off The Professionals due to illness? ›
Jeffery & Venus - LEFT DUE TO ILLNESS
At the age of 18, Jeffrey began working in five-star kitchens in Hong Kong before starting his own culinary school.
Why is Noel Fielding missing from Bake Off final? ›
According to his co-host Matt Lucas, Noel wouldn't be appearing on the first day of the final because he 'was feeling under the weather'.
Has anyone ever been disqualified from the Great British Baking Show? ›
Although this wasn't his fault, Ian was disqualified because of it. He had his cake in the freezer when another contestant, Diana, removed it from the freezer and left it out.
Why did the female hosts leave Bake Off? ›
“We resigned, basically,” Perkins told the Radio Times. “Because it was not a kind show. They were pointing cameras in the bakers' faces and making them cry and saying, 'Tell us about your dead gran.
What happened to Ian's Baked Alaska? ›
Diana Beard stirred up a storm on series five when it appeared she had taken Iain Watters' Baked Alaska ice cream out of the freezer. A frustrated Iain threw his creation into the bin and even presented said disposal unit to the judges when it was time to bring his bake up to the front of the tent.
Why do the bakers on GBBO wear the same clothes? ›
The Great British Bake Off is usually filmed over the course of two days per episode, because of this, producers are very strict on having contestants wear the exact same clothes to avoid any mishaps with continuity and to make it easier to edit together.
Related: Bake Off The Professionals crowns 2023 winner
Lucas's replacement on the show is presenter Alison Hammond, who will make her debut alongside Fielding when the series returns next week.
How much does Noel get paid for Bake Off? ›
It was previously reported that Noel makes around £200,000 per series of Bake Off, according to The Sun. Meanwhile, Alison is no stranger to the programme as she took part in Celebrity Great British Bake Off which helps to raise money for Stand Up to Cancer.
Was Noel sick on British baking show? ›
Where Was Noel Fielding in the First Half of The Great British Baking Show 2022 Finale? According to co-host Matt Lucas, Noel Fielding missed the first half of The Great British Baking Show finale this year because he was sick.
Which host was fired from The Great British Baking Show? ›
Matt Lucas is leaving Great British Bake Off
From my view, Lucas's humor—which trended toward edginess and cringe—just wasn't compatible with what makes the show great. That is, wholesome vibes, lovable contestants, and tall gender-norms-defying waif Noel Fielding, who is blessedly remaining on the show.
Was Matt fired from Bake Off? ›
The comedian announced his exit from the Channel 4 show in December, after three series co-hosting with Noel Fielding. Matt Lucas has opened up about his decision to leave the Great British Bake Off, revealing that David Walliams played a role in his departure.
Is Tasha really deaf Bake Off? ›
🐶 I'm incredibly proud to be deaf and I love what the deaf community and BSL gives me. However, I do get anxious when I'm on my own and I also worry that I might miss a life-saving alarm or even just my morning alarm to get up for work. I'm not the only one and that's where Hearing Dogs for Deaf People comes in.
Why did the female hosts leave British Bake Off? ›
They say they properly quit Bake Off in 2016 after hearing on a television news bulletin that the programme, made by Love Productions, was being poached by Channel 4. It was painful, said Perkins. “There's no antagonism there.
Why does the guy on British Bake Off have no hair? ›
Matt Lucas is bald because he has a condition called alopecia universalis. This is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to complete hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body.
Why did Freya leave Bake Off? ›
Sadly, It wasn't quite fancy enough as Paul and Prue referred to her cake as 'doughy' and 'under-baked', with too much dough compared to topping. Fans came to Freya's defence with one saying: "Nahhh did they really just send Freya home for having too little topping on her cake when George legit served up raw dough."
