FLOUR POWER MURRAY CHALMERS

Last night showed how this series has only ever been a race of one – with Steph now so far ahead of the pack it’s like she’s driving a Bentley while throwing a tow-rope to the others in their clapped-out old bangers.

All bakers sweetly appeared in ties as a homage to Henry, whose absence put more pressure on Crackling Rosie to ramp up her eccentricity.

She dutifully dominated in the way that heroic British failures often do. Attempting to draw upon the “best in show” spirit bred into her class, this charming vet spent most of the night walking on thin ice – never easy while chained to a hot oven.

However, even Noel’s bizarre question – “What’s the biggest animal you’ve castrated?” – could not derail her, although she’s now joined one of the UK’s largest lobby groups in finding Mr Fielding frightfully unfunny.

The technical challenge of a Gateau St Honoré was another set by Prue, primarily so she could show off her finishing school French. More prosaically, Paul labelled the creation “diabetes on a plate”.

Rosie had a hilariously endearing suburban relapse while flinging around seemingly inexhaustible supplies of pastry. Surprisingly, despite putting her Choux on upside down, she won the round and won over a nation.

The showstopper involved an edible depiction of something precious in a sugar glass display case.

Rosie tackled the concept of time – well, she had a good four hours, so why not? Her philosophical musings, sadly, were realised in the form of a few dry cakes in a box, a conclusion pronounced “a bit boring” by Paul.

Time did finally run out for Rosie and she was sent home, leaving Alice as star baker.