‘The Great British Baking Show’ Season 5, Episode 9 Recap: Patisserie Semifinal

It seems like just last week we were being introduced to a dozen bright and hopeful bakers as The Great British Baking Show Season 5 began. How can it be that only four contestants now remain?

This week Brendan, Danny, James and John figuratively headed across The Channel with three goals in mind– 1) to reach miniature signature bake perfection, 2) to achieve flawless technical brilliance and 3) to assemble a showstopping choux pastry creation. Who would make it to the final and who would be sent home just shy of their realizing their baking ambitions?  Before we answer that, let’s briefly revisit the events of the recent quarterfinals.

Cathryn was the casualty of last week’s competition. Despite her solid gingerbread palace effort, her irregular crackers and calamitous teacakes ultimately doomed the devoted mum to elimination. She said she wasn’t surprised, but was a little bit heartbroken. It was a much better outcome for birthday boy James whom the judges named Star Baker for a second time. The favorable reception of his smoky cayenne, cumin and chili crackers combined with his first-place technical teacakes put him in good position, but it was surely his tumbledown gingerbread barn showstopper that put him over the top. And as Sue noted, he didn’t even have to get out the whiskey bottle this time!