'Paul Hollywood said my cheesecake was five star'

A contestant on the Great British Bake Off said the experience had been "life-changing" and helped her discover more about herself.

Project planner Shannon, from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, said a big highlight was making friends with the other contestants.

She told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that being able to look behind the scenes of how TV shows were produced had made her consider a career in the sector, while the show had left her with some moments of praise from the judges to treasure.

"I did get a comment from Paul Hollywood and he said [a cheesecake she made] looked 'five-star gourmet' so I will take that with me for the rest of my life," Shannon said.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the series

Shannon added: "I've become myself, I've let go of any persona of who I wish I was. Life changing, that's the word, life changing."

She had to leave the tent after the third episode, which aired on Tuesday.

Now she has had a few months to process the decision, she said she has come to terms with her exit.

"It was the worst news I could have asked for. But you know what? I had the best time so it's fine," she said.

"I'll always carry the memories, the laughter, the chaos, and the love we shared in that tent. Even though I wasn't ready to leave, I'm so proud I got to be part of something so special."

Shannon added her "mind was blown" that she had been in the Bake Off tent at all.

Her favourite challenge was baking a Bailey's cheesecake with her mum in the third week, she said, with the finished cake drawing the high praise from Paul Hollywood.

"They clipped that bit out but it's alright, it's a memory for myself," Shannon added.

She added she would never stop baking, despite her TV experience ending.

"I am really a home baker so if people come around, I'm always there making a bake for someone," Shannon said.

"It's really made me appreciate my love of television as well because seeing behind the scenes of how things are made, I really did enjoy it and it might be something I will go into in the future."

She added judges Nigella Lawson and Hollywood were very nice to her.

"Off camera, once they delivered what they had to deliver, they would always come up to me and say Shannon, you are just incredible," she added.

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