The Great British Bake Off marked autumn’s near-arrival when it returned to screens on Tuesday, but a new feature introduced in the series debut episode left many viewers calling for a change.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith were back to oversee a new batch of hopeful bakers, but not long into the episode, a major change was confirmed.
The Channel 4 competition moved from the BBC in 2017, but has largely followed the same format since the show debuted in 2010.
Each week focuses on a different theme, with three challenges in each: The Signature, Technical and Showstopper.
However, as the 12 new bakers were getting stuck into the competition in the iconic tent, they were informed the Technical challenge would now have an added layer of difficulty.
Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond announced during Cake Week that the Technical would now have no recipe provided, with bakers relying on taste alone to create a tricky bake.
Mr Fielding explained: “In a change from the norm, this is a taste and bake challenge. Under your gingham cloth is the perfect mini Battenburg.
“You’ll have five minutes to inspect your Battenburg, then you’ll have to recreate that with no recipe.”
The contestants were concerned by the added pressure of the task, with many fans also complaining online.
“It’s the first week & they’ve been well harsh to them #GBBO,” one wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“First week and no recipe at all for the technical?! Harsh! #GBBO,” another agreed.
“Seems a very harsh technical. Especially for week 1 #gbbo,” someone else wrote.
Quoting one of the judges’ criticisms, another penned: “‘Why did you add a completely different flavour in there? WHY DID YOU GIVE THEM DIFFERENT FLAVOURS?!?! On a technical!!! Super cruel week 1 technical. #GBBO.”
“‘These poor bakers, that’s putting it lightly. They’ve been through enough after the technical & now the landscape cake showstopper challenge too. And this is only week 1… #GBBO,” another shared.
Someone else commented: “#GBBO no recipe thing was a nonsense too. You’re not testing technical skills properly, you’re asking for guesswork and then criticising guesswork.”
“This is such a stupid technical challenge. Don’t give them no recipe and purposefully give them the wrong ingredients if you don’t want them to use them. It’s setting the bakers up for failure #GBBO,” one more added.
However, some praised the decision, with one adding: “Oooh that’s a harsh technical for week one… I love it! #GBBO.”
Despite it being the opening episode of the series, one baker was eliminated at the end.
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Chemistry graduate Hassan became the first to be eliminated, and while disappointed, he took the news gracefully.
“I think I am a bit upset, but I did expect it,” he admitted. “Everyone is such a phenomenal baker; they are all such lovely people.
“And even though it’s been a short-lived experience, I have enjoyed it. Hopefully I can reflect on some things and then maybe get back to baking when I get a chance.”