You can always guarantee a number of things from the start of a new series of The Great British Bake Off – a ridiculous opening skit, at least one baking disaster and a smattering of innuendo, to name but a few.
And indeed, all three were present and correct as the 10th series launched on Tuesday night, but even we were left shocked by one particular innuendo as the new batch of bakers took on their first showstopper challenge during Cake Week.
Two words: Furry garden.
Now, allow us to explain.
The challenge in question saw the contestants have to produce the children’s birthday cake of their dreams, but Helena Garcia left judge Paul Hollywood and host Noel Fielding in stitches when her “fairy garden” got a bit lost in translation.
The baker, who was raised in Lanzarote, told them of her plans to produce a cake inspired by a time in her childhood when she was obsessed with fairies.
However, hilarity soon ensued when Paul misheard what she was making, with the hilarious exchange unfolding a little something like this...
Helena: “It’s a fairy garden. I had a fairy garden as a child. I have one now.”
Paul: “You’ve got a what, sorry?”
Helena: “A fairy garden.”
Noel: “A furry garden?”
Helena: “Is it my accent?”
Paul: “Oh, a FAIRY garden?”
Prue: “Well, what did you think she said?”
Paul: “Well, like fur.”
Prue: “Furry garden? No, FAIRY garden.”
Helena: “Oh Paul, I know what you’re thinking.”
Paul, laughing: “So, how big is your fairy garden?”
Prue, pointing at cake tins: “So you’re going to put these two, then these two… it’s more of a fairy mountain.”
Helena: “Yeah! Oh god [laughing] I can’t do it.”
Wow.
As it turned out, Helena’s *checks notes* fairy garden turned out to be an absolute triumph, but Paul couldn’t resist one last cheeky comment during the taste test.
He remarked: “It is a fantastic sponge, the depth of flavour is beautiful. You’ve got coffee in there, which actually blends beautifully with the chocolate. I think you’ve done a good job with your fairy garden.”
Prue joked: “Don’t start!”
However, that was not the only moment of smut during the episode, as the sight of Phil Thorne icing the top of his rocket showstopper also proved to be a little too much.
We’ll leave this one up to you to work out why people might have been laughing.
The Great British Bake Off continues next Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4.
