‘The Great British Baking Show’: Did Rowan’s “Bread Week” Bakes Deserve to Be Called “Monstrous” and “Hideous”?

Every fan of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix knows that judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith have their favorites in the tent and then they have bakers they weirdly like to gang up on. In The Great British Baking Show “Bread Week,” for instance, Paul and Prue seemed to single out Rowan Claughton. First Paul gleefully called Rowan’s Signature Cottage Loaf “monstrous,” while Prue heckled his design choices. Later, Paul straight up described the flavor of Rowan’s Plaited Bread Showstopper as “hideous,” before launching into an impression of his yeast basically dying during the bake. Any compliment thrown Rowan’s way was a backward one. Paul and Prue essentially beat Rowan up…but did the 21-year-old baker deserve it? And if Rowan’s bakes were so terrible, how did another baker end up getting the boot?

Basically, the question we have after The Great British Baking Show “Bread Week” is why were Paul and Prue so mean to poor Rowan? What was that all about?

In the weeks leading up to the premiere of The Great British Baking Show Collection 11 on Netflix, fans of the British reality show were assured that this year the tone in the tent would be different. There would be no more culturally insensitive National Theme Weeks. Producers planned a back-to-basics approach, focused on homespun bakes. Finally, there was hope that the addition of Alison Hammond would bring a generally more congenial vibe to the show — and it has so far! In the last three weeks, Bake Off fans have been treated to the types of challenges and infectious camaraderie that made the show a hit in the first place. Which is why it was unsettling, though ultimately unsurprising, to hear Paul and Prue’s jaw-dropping critiques of Rowan’s bakes during “Bread Week.”

It all started with the Cottage Loaf Signature. Rowan opted to make an Italian-inspired Olive & Tomato Cottage Loaf. He battled with a dough that contained about 700 grams of flour that came close to toppling over in the oven. Rowan cleverly managed to save the bake by using a rod to keep the top and bottom portions together. You would think that Paul and Prue would applaud his ingenuity, but no. Instead, they looked at it in horror, only reluctantly acknowledging that the texture of the bread looked alright.

Paul, as we mentioned, called the loaf “monstrous.” It was a dig that was overheard by Rowan’s neighbor, Abbi Lawson, who echoed it back in horror after the judges left. Rowan shrugged it off, saying he’d been called worse. Later, he proudly told the camera, “I’d rather be monstrous than mediocre.” At least, that’s what he said before his performance in both the Technical and Showstopper also put him in trouble…

For the “Bread Week” Showstopper Challenge, Paul and Prue — but come on, mainly Paul — asked the bakers to make a Plaited Centerpiece with more than one kind of flour. While Tasha Stones wowed the judges with her Medusa and Josh Smalley once again impressed with a tiger, Rowan struggled with his Rowan tree. To be fair, Prue complimented the design of the Showstopper, complete with a wooden stand crafted by Rowan’s father. However, when Paul sliced into the bread, things took a sour turn.

When Paul and Prue tried the first of Rowan’s three breads, Paul straight up called the bake “hideous.” Not only were the flavors overpowering, but the dough was raw inside. He then did an impression of the yeast in the dough crying, “Help me, I can’t rise!” due to the massive amounts of curry Rowan put in. When the judges sliced into the second bread, it was basically a repeat of the same critiques. Only when they sampled the marzipan loaf did Paul and Prue have anything nice to say to Rowan. “That is such a relief after the strength of your other flavors,” Prue says.

Rowan’s bakes might have been messy. His flavors might have overpowered the yeast. However, even he rather mischievously acknowledged the rarity of getting such strong words hurled at him on The Great British Baking Show. Before learning if he was staying or going home, Rowan joked he would have the words “monstrous” and “hideous” tattooed somewhere on his body.

In the end, Abbi was the baker sent home from The Great British Baking Show “Bread Week” — not Rowan. I, for one, was sort of surprised by this call. Sure, Abbi also struggled throughout the challenges, but no one called her bakes “monstrous” or “hideous.” In fact, Paul and Prue complimented the flavors on her Showstopper. Nevertheless, Abbi is out and Rowan remains in.

Which leads us all the way back to our initial question: did Rowan deserve such harsh criticism? I’m going to say no, but at least Rowan and his spirited sense of humor get to stay in the tent for “Chocolate Week.”