SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched the this week’s Bake Off, this article could seriously ruin it for you.

Greenwich firefighter Mat Riley didn’t crumble under pressure in biscuit week and came within a wafer of being named Star Baker.

The 37-year-old, who works at east Greenwich fire station, caught the attention of the judges in the first round with some impressive biscotti with cranberry, pistachio and white chocolate.

Mary Berry praised their evenness – ‘they look like soldiers’ – while Paul, not mincing his words, said simply: “That’s a nice biscotti, well done.”

 The mysterious Arlette stumped many of the bakers in the technical round, though Mat –though at one stage describing his as like ‘flip flops’ managed a decent 5th place.

 

 

 

In a round of show-stopping show stoppers, there were tears from Alvin after his gingerbread box ended up more like an unbuilt flat pack.

 Mat rustled up an astounding gingerbread fire engine filled with earl grey teabag biscuits, which the judges described as ‘beautifully crisp’.

Paul said: “Tastes great, well baked. Well done, mate.”

While Ian’s macaron-filled shortbread cylinder was enough to pip Mat to star baker, it was all over for Marie, who had trouble in both of the first two rounds.

Next week: bread.