In Tuesday’s night’s episode of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, Hermine was yet again named Star Baker and Marc, was the eighth baker to leave the tent.

It was Dessert week and all the Bakers had to raise their game, unfortunately Marc didn’t make it through to the semi-finals.

The Bakers faced a signature challenge of a miniature version of the classic cheesecake. Then the technical dated back to a 17th Century Sussex Pond pudding and finally, they had to make artistic visions a reality using jelly and delicate sponge in a difficult show-stopping Jelly Art Dessert Cake.

On hearing he was leaving Marc said: ‘I am feeling surprisingly ok actually. I came to the Bake Off to kind of face my anxieties, to face failure and to face all those things that people can be quite uncomfortable about dealing with. I have definitely learned a lot more about myself, and maybe from what people have said, to give myself a bit more credit, which I don’t!’

Paul said at the end of the episode: ‘Marc was great and he has been on probably the biggest journey out of all the bakers this year. He started off pretty badly and then as each week has passed by he has got better and better and better, and it’s a shame to see him go.’

Here Marc talks about his experience: ‘Unfortunately this was the week that deserted me, but I am so pleased to have made it to the quarter finals. I didn’t expect at all to get this far, so I feel it has been a great experience and I am so happy that my two daughters got to share it with me.

‘Paul felt there wasn’t enough flavours in my signature of a vanilla and mascarpone cheesecake. And for my Sussex Pond puddings in the technical they didn’t do so well in the judging either, I really don’t think I will ever make one of those again. Even my knowledge of tying knots because of my climbing didn’t help me!

‘My Showstopper was an apple jelly with chocolate and strawberry mousse – flavoured with jasmine and rose – my jelly had a wobble but the judges just felt it wasn’t good enough.

‘My best moment was getting Star Baker on bread week, I really wasn’t expecting that, and

by far the worst moment was seeing David Bowie’s head collapse in my hands, that was a pretty horrible moment and I still have nightmares about it!

‘Living in the bubble with my two daughters was quite surreal, but then quickly it became the new normal. In the first few days you are walking around with a big huge smile on your face. The girls loved being there and really enjoyed walking Prue’s two dogs, they felt like it was being in a holiday camp with a few celebrities thrown in. They had the time of their life, and it’s something we all shared together and can talk about in the future.

‘Sculpting for me is more of a hobby now, as I am a support worker, and of course being a single parent is a full time job. When I do get spare time I love Photography and rock climbing when I can. I live in a little village in Cornwall, it is a small friendly community. I do a lot of walking on the coast path with my dog Hamish.

‘I am originally from Leicester and have had an incredible amount of support from there, that together with the support from my village and Cornwall has been overwhelming.

‘Paul has this stern image so you really want positive feedback from him, but at the same time Prue was the most encouraging , so I always wanted to impress her too. Matt and Noel work so fantastically together, and they do soften the blow when it goes wrong. They cut through the tension especially as you go further through the competition.

‘I would say being greeted by my two daughters at the end of the episode wins the best experience overall throughout the series. They were a huge support also when I felt a bit low, they are amazing girls.

‘I would definitely encourage people to apply, I had no vision of getting on the show. I felt that I wasn’t really an all round baker, I only applied to keep my daughters happy. I would say you must give yourself the chance to have that opportunity and apply.

‘I will be watching with my girls from here on, it’s going to be a bit more of a relaxed viewing now I am not in it. It will be great to watch the remaining bakers go through to the semi final and the final. I am wishing them all the best, they are a great bunch of people, and although I am based in Cornwall we are hoping to meet up when we can, but in the meantime we are all in daily contact.

‘I don’t know if GBBO has changed my life, but it’s made me a better baker. I am not sure what is next for me, but it would be lovely if due to the bake off experience I could find a career in baking - I know that is the direction I would like to go now…’

At the end Paul added: ‘ It is the semi final next week - we have four fantastic bakers, and I still cannot call who will be in the Final’.

Marc will join Jo Brand and Tom Allen on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Thursday 12 November Channel 4 at 8.00 pm.

Marc, 51, Cornwall
Bronze Resin Sculptor

Marc decided to enter Bake Off in a bid to show his daughters that even when life throws obstacles at you, you can rise to new challenges and develop new passions. Born and raised in Leicester, fervent climber Marc spent his youth travelling the world and conquering mountains, before settling back in the UK and becoming a landscape photographer. Personal tragedy, including losing his leg in a motorbike accident in 2016, led him to baking bread as a form of therapy, and from there he came to baking cakes and pastries. From palmiers and chausson aux pommes to opera cakes and millefeuille, his bakes now show true finesse. He’s a support worker and single parent, and, with his daughters cheering him on, he’s taken up climbing again.

Pictures: Duncan Webb at C4. DWebb@channel4.co.uk

Issued by shelagh@shelaghpymm.co.uk; and amanda@consolepr.co.uk

A Love Production for Channel 4.

Have you got what it takes to bake in the tent? We’re looking for the next batch of bakers for the twelfth series of The Great British Bake Off. If you or someone you know is a talented home baker then apply now at www.applyforbakeoff.co.uk or call 0207 067 4837 for an application form.

Closing date for applications is 23.59 on Sunday 6th December 2020. GOOD LUCK!