Bake Off's Paul Hollywood awkwardly jokes he's in a throuple with 'TV partner' Nigella Lawson and his wife - as viewers praise the new judge for her 'love of food'

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood joked that he is in a throuple with 'TV partner' Nigella Lawson and his wife Melissa Spalding.

The hit channel 4 show returned for Audience Choice Week on Tuesday, where viewers at home could pick each challenge.

The episode saw the baker's relatives join them in the tent to help them create an 'exquisite cheesecake' in the signature challenge.

Contestant Gabe was joined by one of his partners Ellis in the tent and clarified that there was also a third person in their relationship, Tyler.

Gabe and Ellis told judges they would be making a cheesecake inspired by one of their favourite chocolate bars.

Explaining their plans to the judges, he said: 'The iconic coconut chocolate bar that we all know and love. 

'Obviously our little like throuple boyband, it's like our go-to.'

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood joked that he is in a throuple with 'TV partner' Nigella Lawson and his wife Melissa Spalding 

The latest episode saw the baker's relatives join them in the tent to help them create an 'exquisite cheesecake' in the signature challenge

Confused, Paul asked: 'Throuple boyband?' 

Gabe replied: 'There's three of us. A lot of people call it a throuple; we call it a boyband..'

'I have a TV partner, and I have a home partner,' Paul joked.

'Oh, so you're in one as well, really,' Gabe quipped.

An awkward Nigella replied: ' Erm, well... not quite.'  

A throuple is a committed, romantic, and emotionally or sexually connected relationship involving three consenting people, also commonly known as a triad.

New judge Nigella has been a huge hit with viewers as they continued to praise her 'love of food', as they say she reminds us that, as humans, we have 'real appetites and senses and passions'.

Taking to X, they said: 'The biggest triumph of Nigella on Bake Off is how she brings what genuinely feels like a real LOVE of every bite she takes. Laugh at how she might eat all you want, I just see someone enjoying every mouthful and it's JOYOUS,' 

Contestant Gabe was joined by his partner Ellis in the kitchen, where they revealed they were in a 'boyband' throuple

'I have a TV partner, and I have a home partner,' Paul joked

An awkward Nigella replied: ' Erm, well... not quite'

It comes as viewers have continued to praise Nigella for her 'love of food,' as they say she reminds us that, as humans, we have 'real appetites and senses and passions'

'Nigella Lawson is life on #gbbo absolutely love her attitude and vibe,'

'I love the way Nigella doesn't care and just shoves the cake into her mouth like the rest of us,'

'obsessed with the nigella lawson cultural attitudes about food revolution were in like let’s goooo',

'I’m obsessed with Nigella stuffing her gob with mouthfuls of every bake,' 

'I absolutely love Nigella on the bake off.'

Elsewhere in the episode, viewers were less than impressed by a first-time format change.

It proved to be a winning format for Clara, who was named star baker, but it was curtains for Shannon who became the second person to be sent home this series.

After the signature challenge, they were given free rein to create whatever they could remember from memory in the technical.

In another first, this meant that each baker could create something totally different to the rest of the contestants – as fans queried how they would compare each bake.

Many critiqued the new theme as 'gimmicky' and said it was 'chaotic' to have so many people in the baking tent at once.

But the signature challenge worked out well for Moyin, who was joined by his mother, as he received the first Hollywood handshake of the series for his cheesecake.

Elsewhere in the episode, viewers were less than impressed by a first-time format change

It proved to be a winning format for Clara, who was named star baker, but it was curtains for Shannon (pictured) who became the second person to be sent home

Paul and Nigella were impressed by Clara's handbag, but Shannon's colourful biscuit showstopper wasn't ambitious enough to save her after a difficult week

Taking to X to share their thoughts on the altered format, viewers suggested that people who don't watch the show must have come up with the new ideas.

They said: 'This should be a technical closer to the final'; 'What are all these people doing in the tent? Too much chatter and I completely lost track of the bake. Dreadful idea!'; 'GBBO has been a classic staple for 16 years and now they're changing the premise, FOR WHAT? Mary Berry would be p****d';

'I'm sure all the ideas for audience week were sent in by people who don't watch GBBO'; 'Catching up with GBBO and WTF is this rubbish with the relatives'; 

'Wasn't sure about audience choice as the British public cannot be trusted with anything, but this is a breath of fresh air and this should come back.'

Many commented on the way the technical, saying: 'How in the baking blazes can you judge a technical challenge when everyone's baking something different? I'm not convinced audience choice is GBBO's best idea';

'What is the point in a technical where everyone is making something different?  The whole point is that they all make the *same* thing to show their technical ability? If they're all different how do you rate them!'

'This challenge is weird... kinda hard to judge!'

The showstopper challenge saw the contestants offer up a 'wearable bake', as they created hats, bags and even a Dolly Parton-inspired wig

Taking to X to change their thoughts on the altered format, viewers suggested that people who don't watch the show must have come up with the new ideas

Not everyone hated the new format - some viewers praised the twist

The signature challenge worked out well for Moyin, who was joined by his mother, as he received the first Hollywood handshake of the series for his cheesecake

The showstopper challenge saw the contestants offer up a 'wearable bake', as they created hats, bags and even a Dolly Parton-inspired wig.

Paul and Nigella were impressed by Clara's handbag, but Shannon's colourful biscuit showstopper wasn't ambitious enough to save her after a difficult week. 

As the contestants gathered for the results, Paul and Nigella explained that they had to judge the bakers on the whole week rather than just one challenge. 

Shannon's final bake – her biscuit 'Fairy Wings of the Painted Brook' – is the decisive problem. Paul felt it was over baked and, crucially, not ambitious enough for a showstopper. 

Nigella agreed that although it was charming, a few biscuits with royal icing didn't quite meet the brief of a showstopper.