Great British Bake Off sifts out yet another early favourite
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Version 0 of 1. She wanted to show how cake could be less of a “nutritional sin”, but Ugne Bubnaityte’s time on the Great British Bake Off is up as she became the fifth contestant to leave the tent on Wednesday night. Nadiya, who was feted as one of the early favourites by the bookies, was named the star baker. Ugne, whose two passions are baking and bodybuilding, shed tears as she was eliminated, saying it was her “worst moment” on the BBC1 show. “It’s a terrible moment when you know that your baking has failed and your dreams are crumbling around you. I got to five weeks and I do feel that it is such a great achievement, but the competitive side of me would have liked to have got to the final,” she said. She said that after she left the show, she neither baked, nor went to the gym for a week. But she soon got back into both. “I had so many best moments in the tent, I enjoyed the journey from the beginning. If I had to single out a moment, it would be getting approval from Mary [Berry] and Paul [Hollywood] that really would make my day. I pour my heart into my baking and when the judges praised me it gave me confidence and boosted my self-esteem.” She has previously spoken of how she wanted to try to show that baked desserts could complement a healthy lifestyle and went so far as to write on her blog: “In modern-day life, health/fitness and cake is not seen as a match made in heaven. However, through some of my baking I hope that you will realise that ‘cake’ does not always have to be a ‘nutritional sin’.” After leaving the show, she reiterated that, saying: “I like to make healthy bakes, and if you do everything in moderation you can lead a healthy life, and still look good. I am trying to use flour alternatives, less butter, and less refined sugar by using honey instead. I am trying to make the bakes appealing at the same time as being a healthier option. “My dream would be to write a book about baking, and have my own healthy food range.” Ugne said her passion for baking came from childhood, when she said she would be “in the kitchen with my mother and grandmother learning from them”. She said she lived in “idyllic countryside with organic homegrown vegetables, fruit and berries”, so her family made homemade jams and compotes. “I love baking for the family and my signature dish that I have mastered over the years has to be chocolate fondant. It always comes out perfect, and chocolate is the best treat in the world for me. “When I walked into the tent for the first time, it was really freezing, but my palms were sweating, and I thought ‘oh my goodness, here are Mary and Paul and here we go’, but inside I had a rollercoaster of emotions. “My family in Lithuania has been following my journey and the community is so supportive, it is really heartwarming how loyal they have been, as well as all the support on Twitter and social media. I really appreciate every single comment, for me it’s a dream come true. I work and bring up two children, and go training, but I will always find time to bake. It is who I am, it’s my passion, and you always find time for your passion.” |