Great British Bake Off took a step back in time on Wednesday evening when it explored the historic Paignton pudding. Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins visited the seaside town of Paignton, situated on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, to explore the origins of the giant pudding, which was baked for centuries in the town.
So when does the enormous dessert date back to? The very first Paignton pudding was made in token payment for granting the charter to town in the 13th century.The town's most famous pudding was baked in celebration in 1859 - to celebrate the opening of the local railway.
It wouldn't have fitted into the GBBO ovens though. Weighing one-and-a half tonnes and with a 13ft base and a 5ft top layer, no fewer than 18,000 people clamoured for their own piece of pudding at the time - causing a riot. It was most recently made again in 2009 for Paignton Regatta.
Other recipes explored in Dessert Week were Mary Berry's tiramisu, and baked alaskas.Unfortunately one baker hopeful found himself in a sticky situation when his baked alaska was taken out of the freezer by fellow contestant Diana.When Iain assessed his baked alaska, made of cake, meringue and ice cream, and saw that it was melting, he promptly threw it in the bin... a move that meant he was this week's contestant to leave the show.