The Great British Bake Off

It’s bread week and although Paul Hollywood is his usual scarily inscrutable self as he questions the remaining ten bakers about their quick breads (ie loaves baked without yeast), he’s surprisingly generous when he tastes their efforts. “It’s a thing of beauty, my friend,” he tells one. “A work of magic,” to another. And then one lucky amateur gets the Hollywood handshake of approval.

However, the technical challenge (making four perfect baguettes) is another matter. According to one contestant he’s “punching bread and shattering dreams”. And that’s worrying because coming bottom in this round, according to Mr H, automatically puts you in a precarious position.

But just wait until you see their bread sculptures – there are loaves in the shape of a lion, Brighton Pavilion and a bicycle. And one of them impresses the crusty judge so much he says it’s the best thing he’s seen made from bread ever.