This week budding bakers across the UK saw the return of The Great British Bake Off.
From a Hollywood handshake to a technical challenge to all sorts of soggy bottoms – many were delighted to see the iconic show back on our screens. But you may be surprised to learn that it’s been a whole decade since one of the most iconic moments in Bake Off history.
Yes, 10 years ago we saw Iain Watters’ Baked Alaska get thrown into the bin. Dubbed “Bingate” by viewers, 2014 saw a lot of drama unfold in the tent when Diana Beard took her rival’s Baked Alaska out of the freezer.
Viewers were left horrified when his dessert started to melt on the workbench. No matter what he tried, Iain just couldn’t manage to save his Showstopper.
“You’ve got your own freezer, haven’t you?” Diana replied after Iain started comparing his dessert to “soup.” It’s a moment many of us will find it hard to forget.
Tasha Louise took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to celebrate the iconic TV anniversary. She posted a clip of the moment, as she couldn’t believe it’s been 10 years since it aired.
It’s since been viewed more than 70,000 times, and people were transported right back to “bingate”. Some were adament Iain “should not” have been sent home that week.
One wrote: “The anger I still feel after all these years. Can’t imagine how he feels!!” Another added: “Nope, still not over it.”
A third replied: “This still angers me.” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “He should NOT have been sent home that week.”
Back in 2014, things got so tense that the BBC issued a statement clarifying: “Diana removing Iain’s ice cream from the freezer for less than a minute was in no way responsible for Iain’s departure.”
But it wasn’t just the viewers who were left reeling. Diana’s daughter, Sarah, was furious at how the show played out, and claimed her mother had been “done up like a Christmas turkey”.
At the time, she said: “She has been sacrificed on the altar of ratings. To exploit an old lady is shameful.” Even though the pensioner was criticised a lot by viewers, BBC bosses said they didn’t feel there was reason to apologise to Diana.
She later left the show due to ill health, and a spokesman said: “She hasn’t asked for one or needed one. We don’t feel that she’s been misrepresented.”
But, what happened to Iain? Well, a lot has happened since his departure from Bake Off. Not long after his stint on the show, he appeared on Newsnight.
Iain joined presenter, Kirsty Wark, in the studio to talk about just how much “bingate” had hit the leadlines, and to share his thoughts on how it all unfolded.
“I knew it was going to be big but it’s gone nuts today. The reaction has been crazy,” he said. “It was more frustrated and in the heat of the moment. The last moments of the show are intense.
“The pressure in the tent is really huge and different from baking at home. I don’t hold any grudges against Diana.”
After his TV stinit, the amateur baker later returned to his role as a project manager within a construction company. In 2015, Iain was seen at the Queen Mary University campus in East London, where he was working to build new library and gym facilities.
Sometimes he still gets recognised due to his “distinct look”, but life has moved on a lot since then. Luckily, he’s managed to take the whole drama in his stride though.
When he got hitched in 2016, the wedding cake was – naturally – a Baked Alaska. The moment proved he was able to look back on his Bake Off journey with humour when he married Catriona Mills.
