Great British Bake Off star Danni's teary exit speech about finding 'love and acceptance' in a group of strangers leaves viewers emotional

Great British Bake Off star Danni's emotional exit speech left viewers feeling teary after she became the first contestant to be sent home on Tuesday evening.

Danni, 25, who is vegan, came up against several stumbling blocks during episode two, including being unable to taste her non-vegan cookies.

The HGV service centre administrator, from Dorset, also struggled in the ice gem Technical Challenge and failed to recover during the biscuit mosaic Showstopper.

But after being voted the weakest baker, fans of the show praised her for leaving with 'class and dignity', following her heartfelt words about acceptance on the show.

When her name was called by presenter Noel Fielding, shortly after his co-host Alison Hammond revealed Tom was Star Baker, Danni bowed to the group in thanks.

She told them: 'Thank you so much. It's been so lovely with all of you.'

Great British Bake Off star Danni's emotional exit speech left viewers feeling teary after she became the first contestant to be sent home on Tuesday evening

Danni, 25, who is vegan, came up against several stumbling blocks during the episode, including being unable to taste her non-vegan cookies

But after being voted the weakest baker, fans of the show praised her for leaving with 'class and dignity', following her heartfelt words about acceptance on the show

Once outside the tent, Danni, who looked tearful, said: 'I'm really happy that I was the first one out because I know everyone in there is more skilled than me. But, I think I've learned something about myself which is that in the right circumstances, I can make quite a few friends.

'Finding love in a group of strangers, that's just beautiful. There are people who do appreciate you and can appreciate you and will be your friend.'

The scene then cut back to the tent as Danni's fellow contestants wrapped her in a group hug and she told them 'no tears, no tears'.

Outside of the tent, Clara told the camera: 'We got so close to each other, it's so sad! She's so amazing and I'm just upset she's going but someone had to.'

Meanwhile, Shannon added: 'We've got through the first goodbye and it was emosh. Proper emotional. But at least I got waterproof mascara on.'

It wasn't just her co-stars that were sad to see her go, as viewers at home also said they felt emotional following her exit.

Taking to X to share their thoughts on her sweet exit speech, they wrote: 'Danni wasn't the best baker and deserve to go but that exit speech broke me heart a little bit #bekind'; 'Awww, Danni making friends through the power of baking';

'Ohh Danni'; 'Oh Danni! You are a fabulous individual and it has been a delight to have you beamed into my front room, albeit too briefly. Onward, and most definitely upwards'; 'Danni's exit speech really cut me up. She was lovely, and I hope she really gains from the experience. Sad to see her leave so early.'

Others said: 'Really moved by what Danni just said'; 'Danni showed how to leave with class and dignity'; 'I'm sad Danni has gone, she was a proper one off'; 'Danni was a real unique lady, a breath of fresh air. She just does her own thing and says the first thing that comes into her head. Joyous. We all need to be a bit more Danni'; 

'Danni was so lovely, sad to see her go but biscuits maybe not her thing.. Tough challenges this year tbf, a few will be relieved to have got through that one!'; 'I think they should invent an award for Danni as the baker who looked happiest to be there. The tent will be quiet without her.'

Outside of the tent, Clara told the camera: 'We got so close to each other, it's so sad! She's so amazing and I'm just upset she's going but someone had to.'

It wasn't just her co-stars that were sad to see her go, as viewers at home also said they felt emotional following her exit

The scene then cut back to the tent as Danni's fellow contestants wrapped her in a group hug and she told them 'no tears, no tears'

Elsewhere in the show, Nigella Lawson was praised by fans for challenging and 'telling off' Paul Hollywood.

Viewers were quick to pick up that Nigella and Paul seemed anything but friends after the domestic goddess challenged the baker at numerous points during the episode. 

Early in the show as Moyin explained he would be using miso in his cookies, Paul remarked: 'It's unusual to use miso in cookies,' before Nigella hit back: 'No it isn't the young people are doing it a lot.'

In another awkward moment later on, Paul referred to one baker's sweet treat as 'naughty' and once again Nigella challenged him as she quipped: 'I don't approve of referring to food as naughty. 

'We have to take our pleasures where we can in life.'

Later, as the judges pondered who they would be sending home, Paul joked: 'How are we going to decide? Arm wrestle? I'd let you win.' 

Yet Nigella failed to see the funny side as she hit back: 'No you wouldn't, I'm the one that lifts weights.'

Taking to X, fans were delighted by Nigella's assertiveness as they remarked she has challenged Paul more than Prue ever did in nine years. 

Elsewhere in the show, Nigella Lawson was praised by fans for challenging and 'telling off' Paul Hollywood 

However viewers were quick to pick up that Nigella and Paul seemed anything but friends after the domestic goddess challenged the baker at numerous points during the episode

They wrote: 'I like Nigella telling Paul off.'; 'The more digs Nigella gives to Paul, it is more probable she will take over the show';

'Nigella has offered more feedback and challenged Paul more in 2 episodes than Prue did in 9 years';

'Episode 2 and I get a sense Paul and Nigella are not besties';

'Nigella cutting the knees out from under Paul in every episode is going to hugely entertaining, isn't it';

'The lack of chemistry between Nigella and Paul is very apparent'; 'You can tell Nigella & Paul don't vibe lmfao';

'Nigella really isn't a fan of Paul Hollywood, is she?'; 'Paul and Nigella is something else as a duo';

Taking to Twitter, fans were delighted by Nigella's assertiveness as they remarked she has challenged Paul more than Prue ever did in nine years

'I can see why Paul Hollywood doesn't like Nigella bc she is giving proper constructive criticism unlike him.'

Another joked: 'is it a Nigella hug rather than a Paul handshake now?'

Earlier on Tuesday, Nigella admitted she had a 'list of reasons' not to take the Bake Off job after the domestic goddess proved a huge hit with viewers on the new series.

The TV cook made her highly-anticipated debut on the much-loved Channel 4 show last week and she couldn't have been more positively received by fans. 

However, the star has confessed she wasn't originally convinced she was right for the job as she didn't want to be 'fake'. 

Appearing on The One Show on Tuesday evening, Nigella put on a friendly display in her first live TV interview with fellow judge Paul Hollywood, despite rumours of a 'bitter battle of egos' between the pair. 

Nigella explained: 'I had many reservations. When I had my first meeting with them, I had a long list of why I shouldn't do it, because I felt like I had to make it clear that I am not a technical baker. I'm a home baker. 

'I didn't want them to feel they'd come to the wrong shop. I wanted to say what I felt I could do and what I felt I couldn't do. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Nigella admitted she had a 'list of reasons' not to take the Bake Off job after the domestic goddess proved a huge hit with viewers on the new series 

Praising Paul and his baking talent, she said: 'Paul is a genius...He just looks at a cake and he says that needed to be another five degrees hotter and three minutes longer'

'And I said, there'll be no hard feelings after this meeting, if you feel I'm not what you need because I think there's nothing more anxiety provoking than thinking that people expect something from you that you can't give, and I don't ever want to be a fake person and pretend I know something I don't.'

She continued: 'I came to baking late in life. You know, I wrote, it was meant to be ironically titled How to Be a Domestic Goddess when I was 40, so I hadn't really baked because I was a cook. 

'Then I thought, this is easy. I don't know why everyone pretends it's so difficult, which is true if it's home baking. You know, you can make it simple, and what interests me is taste and texture.'

Praising Paul and his baking talent, she said: 'Paul is a genius, and he does it. He just looks at a cake and he says that needed to be another five degrees hotter and three minutes longer. And he knows all that.

'What I feel like I can do is eat, and then try and explain what the taste is like or what the texture is like for people who are home. But I just think I wanted them to know that that's it.'

Also making sure to compliment his TV other half, Paul added: 'And you can tell she imparts that beautifully, though. You can see it on Bake Off.'