In Tuesday’s night’s episode of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, Sophie was named Star Baker for the second time, and Stacey, 42 was the ninth baker to leave the tent. Stacey made it to the semi-final of the competition and after baking 24 Choux Buns with two flavours, a Les Miserable Cake and her Pink Flamingo meringue centrepiece, she only narrowly missed a place in the Final of the series.

Stacey said ‘It was a mixture of emotions for me. I felt I had done so well to get so close to the Final, but also sort of relieved that I would be leaving the tension of the competition. At the beginning of the episode I said that if this is the end of the road for me, then I am leaving happy.

‘For me it was the most unbelievable experience of my life to get to the semi finals of The Great British Bake Off. I rang my husband after episode 8 and said I am going through to the semi-finals! I couldn’t believe it, and to get Star Baker in that week and a Hollywood Handshake, a double whammy!

‘The best moment out of the whole experience for me was to challenge myself to do something scary and out of my comfort zone, and the most important thing to me was that I had tried so hard to get on the show. It doesn’t matter what age you are or your circumstances, as long as you dedicate yourself to the practice you have a chance of getting in. I still find it strange watching it back, and see that it is me in the tent, it doesn’t somehow feel real.

‘Without a shadow of a doubt, my choux buns were my worst moment. I was just setting myself up for disaster, I put decoration on the top that wasn’t really needed. I gave myself too much to do in the time allowed, so I set myself up for a fall, and wow I went crashing down. I could kick myself now that I didn’t make it easier for myself, but you can’t wind the clock back!

‘In Week 4 I started realising that I could actually compete with the other Bakers. At that point, I thought that I might have a chance, or probably that I could do alright, and perhaps I wasn’t as bad as I thought I was. If I have a fault it’s that I can easily find fault in myself – I am self-deprecating to such a tough point, but that is just the way I am. If I can make it hard for myself I will, and I did that on nearly every bake!

‘I am a better baker now than I was before, and I learned that it’s good to push boundaries, and also that it’s not good to wear jeans in 41 degrees heat in a very hot tent. I also found a whole new bunch of friends. Within the first week we were all like family and we had such a laugh together, we shared so many highs and lows, and all the bakers are such lovely people.

‘Going back to being a full time mum to three young boys was actually quite nice. It was a relief not to be baking up against the clock, and I really quickly got back to baking what I wanted to bake and when I wanted to. I thought at the end of my time in the tent I wouldn’t bake for a while, but I did the very next day and I haven’t stopped since.

‘My sons love my glittery biscuits, marshmallow cookies, brownies, chocolate chip biscuits, my bread, they love it all. James my husband loves my Jamaican ginger cake. I had a stall at the school summer fete last year and I made loads of different confectionery: lollies, marshmallows, all my specialities and I am happy to say they sold out within the hour.

‘I am not sure what is happening next for me, we will have to wait and see. But I will definitely be baking.’

As Noel announced that Stacey would be leaving the tent this week, Sandi said ‘You did an amazing job, an amazing job.’

Prue added ‘I think Stacey should be really , really proud of what she has achieved. She will be disappointed today, but the truth is she has done something remarkable.’

At the end of the episode Stacey said ‘So close. I am pleased that I have gone out on a high, it was a really really difficult decision for them. I can go back to being a good mum, so it’s ok. I could have waited another week, but it’s fine, it’s fine.’

Biography

Stacey (Aged 42) – Hertfordshire

Ex school teacher Stacey lives with her husband James and their 3 young sons in Hertfordshire. Stacey has fond memories of helping her grandmother, Phyllis, make bread and butter pudding when she was a little girl, but it was during university days where she really started to bake seriously. Stacey likes to incorporate her Jewish heritage into her baking, with a traditional homemade Challah with every Friday night dinner. As a self-confessed perfectionist, absolutely nothing leaves Stacey’s kitchen unless she is totally satisfied with it.

Stacey will join Jo Brand on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Thursday 26 October, Channel 4 at 10.00 pm.