Close call for Coleraine's baker Iain Ross on The Great British Bake Off

COLERAINE’S Iain Ross faced a tough week on Week Three of The Great British Bake Off.

With the “Back to School” theme, bakers had to turn childhood favourites into showstopping bakes and Iain held his ground.
The signature challenge required 12 flapjacks, each with a filling or topping. Iain combined banana bread with the classic oat-based recipe to create “Iain’s Banana Jack.”

Even with a momentary break outside the tent, he delivered a full dozen flapjacks, though Paul Hollywood noted they were “slightly underbaked.”

Next came the technical challenge: a traditional school cake of vanilla sponge, custard, and hand-decorated sprinkles.
Iain’s effort earned him third place, showing he could perform under pressure.

The final test, the showstopper, tasked bakers with recreating a School Summer Fete.
Iain went large with “The Auld Summer Fete Stall,” including a retro computer monitor, a lemon-flavoured hook-a-duck stall, and chocolate building blocks.

Judges praised the flavours, but Prue Leith found it slightly “gritty,” and Paul Hollywood said: “Overall, I think you struggled.
“It wasn’t as good as I know you can do.”

Despite the critiques, Iain’s skill and determination were enough to keep him in the competition.
“After the show, he admitted: “I was 100% convinced I was gone - now I just have to get through chocolate week!”