Gary Leaves Bake Off in Free From Week as Gabe Takes Star Baker

Gary, a 67-year-old retired garment technologist from Nottinghamshire, became the seventh baker to leave the 17th series of The Great British Bake Off after the show’s “Free From” Party week, which aired on Tuesday night on Channel 4. Gabe was named Star Baker. The remaining bakers now go on to the Quarter Final.

What happened in Free From week

This week’s bakes left out gluten, dairy or animal products, and the bakers had to make gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan party food that still tasted good. A place in the Quarter Final depended on the result. At the end of the episode, presenter Noel Fielding named Gabe Star Baker, and co-presenter Alison Hammond told Gary he was going home.

This series started with 12 bakers in the tent at Welford Park. Judges Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson are setting thirty new challenges across ten episodes.

Gary’s reaction and time in the tent

Gary took the news calmly. He said he had only hoped to reach Week 3 and was proud to have lasted this long. In a Q&A released by Channel 4, he said Free From was his least favourite challenge because he had not practised that kind of baking much at home. His favourite was the Showstopper in pastry week, which he liked because it was something different.

His best moment was hearing Paul Hollywood call him a good baker. The two were a running joke on the show: Paul said he would miss his “doppelganger” and teased Gary for wearing shirts the same colour as his every week. Gary also recalled week 2, when Noel asked him to take Paul’s place on the judging panel and Paul hurried back to push him aside.

Gary said he could tell he was leaving before the announcement, so it came as no surprise. The bakers had a group hug. He left with his water bottle and apron, and said the show taught him how to present himself on camera and how to cope with imposter syndrome.

Who Gary is

Channel 4 describes Gary as a methodical, precise baker who started late. He bought his first cookbook in a gift shop 5 years ago and built a traditional style with careful presentation and strong flavours, especially citrus. He grew up in Chesterfield and lives on a smallholding in Nottinghamshire with Donna, his wife of over 30 years, plus sheep, horses, chickens, pygmy goats, Shetland ponies and two Border Collies, Ollie and Alfie. He survived prostate cancer and raises money for cancer charities through bake sales and coffee mornings.

What it means for home bakers

Gary’s experience shows a common problem: bakers who are confident with butter and wheat flour can struggle when those ingredients come out, because the substitutes behave differently and take practice. If you bake for friends or family with these needs, a test run before the occasion is worth the time. Channel 4’s release does not give the recipes or the specific bakes from the episode.

Gary’s start in baking may encourage others who start later in life. He began only 5 years ago and reached the seventh week of a national competition. Asked whether other home bakers should apply, he answered “100%”.

What comes next

The Quarter Final is next. Channel 4 has not said in this release which bakers remain or what the next theme will be. On the spin-off show GBBO: Second Helpings, host Jon Richardson and regular guest Judi Love talk through Free From week with comedian Harriet Kemsley and Bake Off star Toby Littlewood.

Applications for Series 18 of The Great British Bake Off are open now through the show’s official application site. Gary says he will keep baking and is waiting to see how viewers react.

Source: Channel 4