Iain shines on Chocolate Week and popped the big question

It was another eventful week for Coleraine baker Iain Ross on The Great British Bake Off. The technical challenge once again proved to be a struggle for several contestants, with Iain’s tart starting to fall apart even before he served it up. Despite the pastry crumbling, his flavours were praised by the judges. In the rankings, Nadia came in eighth, with Iain just ahead in seventh.

The mousse challenge brought Iain back into the spotlight. While Toby and Jasmine impressed early with bold flavours, it was Iain who truly hit it out of the park with his mousse and chocolate. His effort stood out as one of the best of the round.

The showstopper carried special meaning for Iain. He based his creation on Crawfordsburn Waterfall — and during the episode he revealed he planned to propose to his girlfriend Dervla McLaughlin there. Since the show just last night, it has come to light that he followed through on that promise, and she said yes at the very spot that inspired his bake.

While Tom secured a Hollywood handshake for his patisserie-style coffee cups, Iain’s steady performance and heartfelt story made him one of the most memorable bakers of the week.