BAKED ALASKA-GATE [edited by MNHQ to say that this thread contains many, many GBBO spoilers. Many Many Many]

[amotherfuckingquiche]

She took Iain's ice cream out of the freezer did she not?!

[VivaLeBeaver]

They'll have a week now where they decide that noone is quite bad enough to be evicted.

[amotherfuckingquiche]

Well, Iain isn't back in Diana's absence. Shame.

[TalcumPowder]

What I still find a bit odd is that the editing left what actually happened ambiguous, unlike the time last year when Deborah (?) accidentally stole Howard's custard and used it in her trifle. The edit made it clear it was a total accident, showed her being horrified when she realised, and there was one of those 'talking head' bits afterwards with Deborah saying how awful she felt and Howard being gracious etc.

Whereas with BakedAlaska!Gate, it's not clear (to me, anyway) from either the episode or subsequent interviews etc whether Diana absent-mindedly forgot to replace Iain's icecream when she removed it to check hers - understandable in the heat and pressure - or whether she got cross at what she perceived to be him encroaching on freezer space she considered hers?

All the focus seems to have been in how long it stayed out, but surely it's a little strange not to have had a brief 'talking head' shot with Diana saying 'God, I feel terrible, I just forgot I took it out', if that's what happened? We would still have had the drama of Iain binning and stalking off, but Diana's motivation wouldn't be so mysterious...

[Pipbin]

Someone dropped out of Sewing Bee very early on and they didn't replace him.

[Jux]

CulturalBear, I didn't think she said it in a snippy way. She sounded distracted to me; more like she was concentrating hard on what she was doing, slightly bewildered that he wouldn't have his own freezer.

Anyway, it's all over now. From Viva's post, it seems to me that justice prevailed.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I saw Mary berry in person at the weekend. She said that Diana did apologise. I'm not sure at what point. She said Iain was slower than everyone else at making ice cream and had got behind and was later than others putting it in the freezer which is why it didnt freeze. She said there's enough freezer space for everyone.

[CulturalBear]

Did she? I could have sworn she said something like 'well haven't you got your own freezer' in a snappy way. I'm usually pretty observant. Will have to rewatch.

[CulturalBear]

The thing that shocked me was that she never apologised. No 'oh my god, I'm so sorry, I didn't realise' etc etc which would have been becoming of most average people, surely compulsory for a WIer.

My initial reaction at the time was 'tbh, Iain's mental health isn't up to this kind of pressure if he's reacting like this'... if they let him back, well.... I'd be surprised.

The upside is that the huge level of unfounded drama means that there will be no protest from DP when I say I want to watch it this week!

[LizzieMint]

Ah, I think it's the John Thwaite thing I was thinking of

[WipsGlitter]

Ian did hint on Newsnight that he might be back, Kirsty asked him and he said 'you'll have to watch next week and see!'

[ShadowStar]

They had a drop out at an early stage in The Apprentice one year, IIRC he wasn't replaced. Is it maybe that you're thinking of?

[TalcumPowder]

I don't think anyone has had to drop out in previous series. John Thwaite cut his finger badly one week and couldn't finish his bake, but they just didn't eliminate anyone that week, and chucked out two at some subsequent point. If that's what you're thinking of...?

[AWombWithoutARoof]

Ah, I see.

[LizzieMint]

They've had someone drop out before in another series (can't remember who or why but I know it happened!) without replacing them, I'd be surprised if they let Iain back this week. They just didn't lose anyone the following week, but didn't tell the contestents that until the end.

[AWombWithoutARoof]

Exactly. So I'm wondering whether all the hoohah will actually turn out to be a non-event because he may well have been asked back as soon as Diana had to drop out.

[Madratlady]

It was all filmed months ago wasn't it? So all of the backlash Diana is getting and people arguing for Iain to be reinstated are pointless, the whole series has been filmed already.

[Oblomov]

But, they were right. He shouldn't have tipped it in the bin. He could have still done the meringue bit, on a sponge and presented 'something' .

[AFewFallenLeaves]

Mean to Mel? It was lighthearted surely?

[Oblomov]

I was really shocked that she didn't get penalised aswell.

[AWombWithoutARoof]

Posted too soon! I mean, to make sure there are the right amount of contestants.

[AWombWithoutARoof]

Surely Iain will be back tonight, to replace Diana?

[Jux]

I think the wink was pretty clear though, hoppinggreen, if not physically then definitely in her tone and manner.

[Pipbin]

Also there was the it where she saw Mel eat some of Chetnas ice bream and said " I saw that" !!! She winked as well if you watch carefully but it could have been taken as her being a bit mean to Mel.

No, that's the kind of thing you say to a friend, nothing mean at all. I would have said the same.