Who left The Great British Bake Off 2026 tonight after Paul Hollywood gives first handshake of the series
There were highs and lows from Audience Choice weekThe Great British Bake Off 2026 has lost another contestant – but who left the tent tonight?
Week 3 saw the introduction of Audience Choice, which is a brand new week for the Channel 4 show.
Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson handed the reins over the viewers in the GBBO first.
The bakers still had to do Signature, Technical and Showstopper challenges – but the specifics were chosen by fans of the show.
There was another first in the tent, too.
Paul gave out his first Hollywood Handshake of the 2026 series!
Here’s what happened and who left tonights’s Great British Bake Off.
Great British Bake Off: Audience Choice week
Viewers were introduced to Audience Choice week by host Alison Hammond. She said in a voiceover: “With thousands of submissions of challenge ideas from across the globe, for the first time in Bake Off history, the audience are in charge.”
Alison was then seen telling the bakers: “We asked the public to submit challenge ideas for the Signature, Technical and Showstopper.”
Her co-host, Noel Fielding, added: “So today, the audience will be deciding what you bake rather than the judges.”
The bakers were told the audience had chosen an “exquisite baked cheesecake” for their Signature. The flavours needed to be inspired by a family favourite.
They were then told that the audience had suggested they bake with a friend or relative. The doors were opened and the bakers’ loved ones piled into the tent.
They then got to work on their cheesecakes.
Paul gives first Hollywood Handshake of the series
The cheesecakes received mixed reviews from Paul and Nigella. Some were criticised for their appearances and others for their flavour choices, including Shannon’s. Paul did not like her Baileys, chocolate and ginger cheesecake one bit.
He told her: “I can’t even taste the Bailey’s. I just don’t like it at all.”
Nigella also took a step back and said: “Woah, your chocolate ganache is very intense. Dare I say it, you put too much salt in.”
At the opposite end of the scale, one stood out way above the rest. Moyin’s orange Basque cheesecake blew Paul and Nigella away.
Nigella told Moyin: “It’s beautiful. I love the texture and I absolutely adore that fierce spiral of orange curd. It really is zingier than zingy”
Paul, meanwhile, took a mouthful before putting down his fork. Without saying a word, he extended his hand towards Moyin.
The tent erupted as they shook hands. Paul also shook hands with Moyin’s mum, who had helped him bake his cheesecake.
“That’s one of the best things I’ve eaten for quite some time,” Paul said. “The balance of flavours, the bake, the look. It’s flawless.”
Who left Great British Bake Off 2026 tonight?
For their Technical, the bakers were each presented with a mystery ‘box’ cabinet. It contained basic ingredients, including eggs, sugar, flour and butter. Lemons were also in there – all chosen by the audience.
They then had to produce their own creation. And there were lots of lemon drizzle-style cakes!
Shannon was ranked worst in 11th place for producing a “flat” cake without much flavour. Molly finished in 10th place due to her lack of flavour, too. Gabe, meanwhile, finished in first place.
The Showstopper had to be a ‘Wearable Bake’. The most popular choice was a hat, with many making creations that could be worn on the head.
Shannon and Mo both made angel wings for their ‘Wearable Bakes’, while Clara created a designer handbag.
Clara’s was so good that she was able to stride up to the judges’ table, swinging it as she went. Paul and Nigella were so impressed that they crowned her Star Baker.
There was disaster for Moyin, whose cake fell off the mannequin and splatted on the floor. But the judges still loved the taste of his Lambeth Top Hat.
In the end, it was Shannon who ended up leaving the tent. Following her cheesecake and lemon drizzle disasters, her angel wings were deemed just too simple.
Following her exit, she tearfully said: “It’s so hard to put into words what this has meant to me. I’ve become myself and just been me. It’s been life-changing.”
