There will be no Moray-based winner in the Great British Bake Off as Portknockie’s Norman Calder was ejected from the BBC1 show last night.
Viewers saw 66-year-old former merchant seaman Norman ejected from the competition after his tarte au citron was criticised and a dish of pears in puff pasty was presented uncooked in places.
In the pie-themed show Norman’s ‘Pieffel Tower’ show-stopper attempt was presented with fruit weeping from the sides while the lavender flavouring in his meringue was described as “overpowering” by judges.
“I’ve been called Storming Norman – and it has been fun to be described like that,” a disappointed but happy Norman said after becoming the latest contestant to leave the show.
Norman added: “I did not go into the Bake Off for the fame, I just wanted to have a bit of excitement in my life. I’ve been retired for three years and for me it was a rejuvenating experience and about meeting new people.
“What I liked most about it was there were 11 people in there who had not heard my jokes before.”
Recalling his experiences during the show – which saw Norman being criticised weekly for ‘playing it safe’ with his baking – he added: “The best bit for me was the first day I walked into the tent.
“That alone was very exciting – then I managed to finish the show-stopper and Mary tasted my 36 miniature cakes – that was most memorable for me, Mary Berry liked my bakes.”