Was there sabotage on Bake-off?

I think Diane is going next week. As it is all recorded the outcome re. Any cheating must have been resolved. X

My thoughts too Ana.
As I abandon my banner and thoughts of a protest march to the BBC to the back of the shed.

LOL I know- I actually watched the programme- but as said, his Alaska was not freezing well at all before it was left- perhaps by mistake in the rush and concentration of it all, for 40 seconds... He could have dealt with it, presented, explained and would be through to next round.

The whole furore just seems a bit OTT- when the world is falling about around us- but yes, I do agree- a bit of light relief drama is good for the soul.

I haven't seen the latest episode yet (watch Sunday pm) but Baked Alaska is a thing I've never attempted.
I just couldn't imagine it possible to bake and brown something with ice cream inside without the ice cream melting.

I think Diana sabotaged Iain's alaska and it would be fairer if he could be given an automatic entry into next year's GBBO. I hope Diana is eliminated next episode. It is probably preferable for each contestant to have their own fridge/freezer to avoid incidents like this and custardgate last series.

I think it opens the programme up to a whole new area. Turning up the oven as you pass, substituting salt for sugar, accidentally knocking something off the bench- the possibilities are endless. I look forward to watching carefully to see what the next "accident" will be. After all nothing is said so, anything goes!

All this wouldn't have occurred if things had been organised properly. I like to think I'm an expert at baked alaska as I made hundreds of individual ones for my restaurant. Contestants should have been permitted to complete the making of the sponge and the icecream, forming the desired shape and freezing for at least 8 hrs. I used to leave mine to freeze overnight. 4 hours was not long enough to ensure a really hard freeze especially as the contestants kept opening the freezer to inspect the goods Baked Alaska was an unfortunate choice for the programme.

Yes, I agree gangy, I kept shouting at them to shut the freezer door!

To each his/her own Ana. I shall continue to watch and enjoy and realise that it has been greatly edited. My worries will go to those things that really deserve them. Life is too short to worry about how the press loves to blow these things out of all proportion.

I've just read on the BBC website that Diana has left the programme, due apparently to ill health. She says the programme was badly edited, and there is not really any ill feeling concerning the melting ice cream.

home.bt.com/entertainment/tv/tvnews/freezer-furore-bake-off-woman-quits-11363929356921
A shame, but maybe it will now stop the fuss!

OMG Breaking News!! The possible (accidental?) saboteur has quit GBBO but insists nothing to do with incident. DD just sent me a link from BBC News!

ITV central News not BBC but I'm sure its there too

Yes there are many more thingsto get het up about, but if you believe in fair play, about the way we treat one another it was a selfish act. I believe he was more upset because of what she did rather than the failure of his baked alaska because everyone was struggling with the heat. She could have found another available freezer.

He apologised publically for what occured which is more than she did.

Wrong freezer she said; with a smug look on her face, Oop's it's in the bin..

I've never had the courage to make baked Alaska, but do you not bake it? Surely in the 60's when it was so popular few people had the little blow torches they waved over the meringue so briefly.

These programmes are edited for maximun dramatic effect, which often makes "a drama out of a crisis".

Someone I knew went onto Come Dine With Me. The gaffe he made on camera became the trailer for that week's episodes, and is one of the things that people remember about the whole series.

Mind you, I would never have gone within a mile of the series in the first place.

I know she is quite old (as are some gransnetters?) but to not hold her hand up and admit that she was guilty is really classed as cheating.
We may not have heard the last of this episode even on Extra Slice. Watch this thread

I didn't see them torching a baked alaska, but I have baked it briefly in the oven in the past. A blowtorch was for blasting off paint, not using on food!

(Made it by plastering meringue around one of those bought desserts with a cylinder of ice cream wrapped in sponge - can't for the life of me remember its name!)

Arctic Roll! Stop looking for the name and it pops up as soon as you have pressed "Post message"

I don't think that it was deliberate but I do think Diane and Nancy ( who knew about it ) should have said something. As to wether we care or no, yes we should. It is a competition and the results in previous years have changed a number of people's lives.

Just read on line that Dianne is not in future programmes due to illness shortly after the last programme. Was she pushed? Today on line Ian has apparently defended her and said it wasn't her fault. Did they edit it in a way to make Dianne look guilty? Will we ever know???? But I will miss her as she reminds me of my approach to baking not that I am as good but she seemed to be a good basic baker and a little out of depth with these younger contestants who are coming up with such amazing flavours. A shame for controversy to 'take the shine off' such a great programme.

I was expecting them not to send anyone home this week because of this situation & I think this would have been the fair result.
I don't for one minute think Diana did it on purpose & I think the editing has a lot to answer for- it all makes for controversial TV but how sad that a gentle family programme like GBBO has to be 'beefed up' for a bit of publicity- it doesn't need it- look at the viewing figures!
A great pity!

I cannot believe this has just been on the BBC News. Apparently HE put it in the wrong freezer and SHE did not tell him within the 40 seconds it took for him to realise she taken it out.

She is now devastated and will not appear on the Extra Slice programme. She is not dropping out of the competition as it has already been filmed. People are being crucified and children are being not only abused but told it is their fault and this become a news item. I despair