Yorkshireman Dan Chambers says Bake Off 'wasn't a piece of cake' as he's first to leave
![Dan Chambers. Picture: Channel 4.](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_110511793.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Dan Chambers. Picture: Channel 4.](/img/placeholder.png)
Support worker Dan Chambers, 33, from Rotherham, was axed at the end of the first episode of the new series after serving up a raw fruit cake to judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.
-> Great British Bake Off 2019 - all you need to know including the Yorkshire linksChannel 4 today said that the extended series launch won an average overnight audience of 5.7m viewers - a share of 30.6 per cent - a higher last year's first outing. It peaked with an audience of 6.6m.
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Hide AdAfterwards Dan said: "I love fruit cake and it hasn't put me off making one, but next time I won't make it in three hours.
"I love the long process of making a Christmas cake and I feed it over the weeks and it always turns out a beautiful cake. I get lots of compliments from the family at Christmas!"
He had better luck in the showstopper challenge, whipping up a pirate island cake complete with dry ice waterfall as the birthday cake of his childhood dreams, but he knew his fate was already sealed.
-> Yorkshire-backed Peaky Blinders enjoys record series openerUnfortunately he was unable to in the footsteps of 2018 champ Rahul Mandal, also from Rotherham.
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Hide AdLast year's runner-up Kim-Joy Hewlett, of Leeds, remarked on how difficult the first technical challenge had been.
She said on Twitter: "Angel cake for the first technical?! That is HARD! I'd be all over the place."
Dan added: "It's the nature of the show when something goes wrong on that particular week, you've had it, and I understand how the show works and I felt it was the right decision that I should go.
"My best moment overall was meeting the other bakers, and that was one of the reasons I was sad to leave.
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Hide Ad"I knew I was going to miss talking to people that felt like I did about baking, and we bonded instantly. It was very strange but very lovely at the same time.
"My worst moment was the signature (challenge) for me, so I knew my showstopper had to totally wow to save me, and that was a lot of pressure.
"When I heard that the judging wasn't amazing, I really knew I was going, so I was prepared for it when they announced it.
The first episode saw print shop administrator Michelle, 35, named star baker after whipping up a carrot cake so good that Leith asked for the recipe.
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Hide AdAfter sampling the cake, Leith said: "This is the 10th anniversary of The Great British Bake Off and what a way to start!"
This year's line-up is the youngest on average of any since the show started.Dan will join Jo Brand and Tom Allen on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Friday on Channel 4 at 8pm.