Great British Bake Off: Greenwich firefighter Mat Riley tackles alternative ingredients in week 5

Greenwich's firefighter-turned-baker Mat Riley survived has the Great British Bake Off heat once again, as alternative ingredient week proved too much for some.

The free from challenges for week five saw the eight remaining bakers creating sugar-free cakes, gluten-free pitas and dairy-free ice cream rolls.

Lithuanian body builder Ugne Bubnaityte's GBBO journey came to an end last night, after her chocolate, peanut butter and grape jelly dairy-free ice cream roll was deemed a mess by judge Paul Hollywood.

For Mat the competition continues into week six, after his three bakes impressed the judges.

In the signature challenge Mat went for a carrot cake with raisins, cinnamon, ginger and orange zest, substituting sugar for dates and honey.

Greenwich firefighter-turned baker Mat Riley.

Paul Hollywood was surprised to discover he liked the cake, after initially remarking that it looked under baked. 

He told Mat: "I actually really like it. I think it's baked. I just think you've got so much stuff in there the lack of sugar is almost incidental.

"I think you've made a really nice cake."

The technical challenge went similarly well after Mary Berry was impressed by the uniform shape of Mat's 12 gluten-free pitas.

But she did wonder whether they were a tad too thick to create a naturally formed envelope in every one.

Mat in action last night.

In the show stopper round Paul questioned whether Mat's coconut ice cream, raspberry jam and atlas sponge cake was too simple for Bake Off's high standards.

He said: "There's nothing wrong with using plain stuff, but when you go back to the basics they have to be good."

The result? Mat's striped sponge roll was generally liked by both judges, but they did pick up on the lack of ice cream.

Mat replied: "It was getting pushed out as I rolled it up - like a tube of toothpaste."

Next week: Pastries.