Great British Bake Off: Sussex Pond Pudding Challenge Is Not Appealing To Viewers

Prue Leith took things back to the 18th century for this week's Technical Challenge, and fans were not exactly loving it.
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Warning: This article contains spoilers for the most recent episode of the Great British Bake off.

During the 10 years it’s been on the air, the Great British Bake Off has been hailed as the pinnacle of food porn, with the contestants serving up eye-watering cakes, biscuits and desserts every week.

However, the latest episode of the Channel 4 show had the complete opposite effect, as Prue Leith tasked the remaining five bakers with a dessert challenge that took them back to the 18th century.

In this week’s Technical Challenge, the bakers had to serve up a perfect Sussex Pond Pudding, which sees an entire lemon being encased in suet pastry, which is filled with butter and sugar and then steamed for a couple of hours.

2020 is served. Bon appétit. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/xNangXHEJX

— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) November 10, 2020

Life this year. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/OL7ZU1MDnN

— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) November 10, 2020

And as if all of that doesn’t sound unappealing already, then what the contestants ended up serving up was even worse, with many branding the task one of the most disgusting in Bake Off history…

Didn’t think it was possible for something called ‘Sussex Pond Pudding’ to be even more disgusting than it sounds and yet #gbbo

— Young hot book fag (@odhreo) November 10, 2020

I’m sorry, but a Sussex Pond Pudding should have stayed in the 18th century. #GBBO

— Joe Wignall (@Joe_Wignall) November 10, 2020

When I see the bakers asked to stick whole lemons into disgusting looking steamed puddings (which they don't have enough time to cook) on #GBBO. pic.twitter.com/ZqIl1Jr39W

— Rum Ham (@ChristinaMcMc) November 10, 2020

Quite possibly one of the most revolting desserts ever seen on #GBBO

— Ryan Love (@RyanJL) November 10, 2020

1700s folk had shite puddings. Even a choc ice would blow their minds. #GBBO

— Pete Allison (@Pete_Allison) November 10, 2020

Do you eat the lemon? I don't understand this item at all. #gbbo

— Nick Walker (@nickw84) November 10, 2020

A PUDDING WITH A WHOLE LEMON INSIDE??? EXCUSE ME WHAT. #GBBO

— Nat Guest (@unfortunatalie) November 10, 2020

This is horrendous #gbbo

— sophie hall seasons total landscaping (@SophLouiseHall) November 10, 2020

Love that someone put a whole lemon in these already extremely grim puddings like it would help #gbbo

— sophie hall seasons total landscaping (@SophLouiseHall) November 10, 2020

Just a whole lemon sat inside those pastries ......

— garlico (@rhysjharding) November 10, 2020

That technical was impossible and also looked vile #GBBO

— Heather (@iamheatherh) November 10, 2020

That task exposed the folly of setting a stupid gross pudding from history. Five piles of mush. #GBBO

— Juno Dawson (@junodawson) November 10, 2020

Not impressed with any of those Sussex pond puddings... #GBBO pic.twitter.com/Qgyt4vk7ff

— Tom 🤔 (@Tom_TheSequel) November 10, 2020

Is a Sussex pond pudding supposed to look like something Livia threw up? #GBBO

— Dr Emma Southon (@NuclearTeeth) November 10, 2020

As Prue judged the five pond puddings, she told most of the group that their desserts could have used another hour’s worth of steaming, which baffled many viewers, who pointed out that she was the one who’d set the timing of the task…

So, none of the weird lemon puddings are cooked/are raw. Just a though but maybe do you think you didn’t give them enough time? 🤔#bakeoff #GBBO

— Amy Louise Jewitt (@MissAmy_Lou) November 10, 2020

"It's the #bakeoff quarter finals, so we expect them all to really step up"

*later*

"Right bakers, we want you to make a pudding from the 1700s with not nearly enough time and only enough ingredients for one attempt, you plebs."

— Shaun Guillan (@ShaunGuillan) November 10, 2020

‘In another hour that pastry could have been lovely’ ‘the problem with under steaming...’ OH MY GOD DO YOU THINK THERE’S A SIMPLE ANSWER... LIKE GIVING THEM LONG ENOUGH TO COOK THE FUCKING PUDDINGS

— Olivia Potts (@_Poots_) November 10, 2020

They absolutely did not have time for that technical. Con. Fixed. Absolutely what they all deserve for letting Lottie go home. #GBBO

— Mia (@CigaretteCalpol) November 10, 2020

Maybe just put something else in the middle instead of a whole fucking lemon that takes an hour and a half to break down, maybe that's the problem #gbbo

— Eddie Robson (@EddieRobson) November 10, 2020

‘It’s a shame’ yes it is a shame you made 5 people steam a lemon for an hour and serve it up with custard

— garlico (@rhysjharding) November 10, 2020

I mean, could you potentially, maybe, perhaps not have GIVEN them enough time? #GBBO pic.twitter.com/CKbT8qNNJw

— David Deady (@david_deady) November 10, 2020

I've a great idea for a programme, it's just like Bake Off but people get enough time to finish things.

— Michael Birtwhistle (@SalfordMH) November 10, 2020

It strikes me that if ALL the bakers don't succeed with making the technical bake then it's because they were set up to fail!
No way did they have enough time to steam those puddings @BritishBakeOff #bakeoff

— Insomniac Seagull (@amandasegal) November 10, 2020

If they're saying it needed an extra HOUR to steam, it's on them not the contestants

— Four Seasons Total Becca (@reebmyoo) November 10, 2020

Dessert Week also saw the bakers creating canapé-sized cheesecakes and putting together show-stopping jelly creations.

It was Hermine who got the most praise from Prue and Paul Hollywood, being named Star Baker for the second week in a row.

Sadly, though, it was Mark that was sent packing, after his cake was compared to “concrete” by Paul.

Just four contestants are now in the running to be crowned this year’s Bake Off champion, with the semi-final airing next week.

Find out how they all get on in Tuesday night’s episode, which airs at 8pm on Channel 4.

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