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It was the end of the road for Nataliia Richardson on The Great British Bake Off as she was eliminated on Tuesday’s episode.
The 32-year-old, from Ukraine, was sent home after she failed to impress the judges with her showstopper during pastry week.
Nataliia couldn’t hide her emotions after she was given the news by co-host Noel Fielding and burst into tears at the thought of leaving.
Speaking to the camera, she said: ‘I’m proud of myself and I think my little girl would be proud.
‘I hope I’ve made my country a bit proud of me. Oh my gosh, I’m going to cry.’
Wiping away tears, she added: ‘I’m glad I met all these wonderful people. I love you guys, you’re so nice. I’m going to cry again.’
For her showstopper, Nataliia made a sculpted tart in the shape of a swan made with pistachio ganache, raspberry filling and cream.
Judge Prue Leith told her during the taste test that she wouldn’t be able to eat too much of it.
Fellow judge Paul Hollywood noted ahead of the showstopper that Nataliia had a difficult couple of weeks in the competition.
Nataliia lives in East Yorkshire with her husba 8nd and works as an office assistant.
She and her husband moved to the UK four years ago, just before the war with Russia broke out.
The rest of her family, including her three-year-old daughter Francesca, followed soon after and they now live in the UK as refugees.
‘My husband secretly sent off my application without telling me,’ Nataliia said when she joined the show.
‘And when he told me that the Bake Off team wanted to speak to me, I was – to put it mildly – shocked. We were at home, and it was the most unexpected phone call.’
Nataliia has a stammer and noted the difficulty of speaking on TV in a second language.
‘I also want to share something personal – As you have likely noticed, I have a stammer,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘Speaking on TV (especially in a second language) while baking under pressure can be tough, but it’s part of who I am, and I’m proud to be here showing that it doesn’t hold me back.
‘Thank you all for the love and encouragement already! It truly means the world. Here’s to more bakes, more courage, and a lot of joy to come.’
Great British Bake Off 2025: Who are the contestants?
Jessika
Age: 32
Occupation: Service designer
From: London
She says: ‘Seeing the big white tent for the first time was so weird.
‘I’ve watched the show for years, and entertained the idea that, potentially, maybe, one day, this girl could quite possibly bake up a storm for the judges.’
Iain
Age: 29
Occupation: Software engineer
From: Belfast
He says: ‘When I got the call to confirm my place I was in sheer disbelief, I had no idea it would actually happen.
‘I thought it was a prank at first, I got a call a few minutes after being told and I thought they were going to tell me they made a mistake and I wasn’t actually on the show!’
Jasmine
Age: 23
Occupation: Medical student
From: Edinburgh
The London based contestant learnt the art of baking through her mother and aunts and has revealed she likes ‘using classic flavours and techniques to produce delicious bakes.’
Lesley
Age: 53
Occupation: Hairdresser
From: Kent
She is inspired by her family, passing on her kitchen skills to her granddaughter Mabel after falling in love with baking as a child herself, thanks her Nanny Mable and Auntie Joan.
Nadia
Age: 41
Occupation: Hairdresser
From: Liverpool
She is inspired by her Italian chef dad and loves to blend Indian and Italian flavours
Toby
Age: 29
Occupation: Business development executive
From: Warwickshire
Toby takes a stripped back and healthy approach to baking and leans towards classic recipes and flavours as he believes they are classics for a reason.
Pui Man
Age: 51
Occupation: Bridal designer
From: Essex
Pui Man brings attention to detail when it comes to designing a wedding dress, and especially when it comes to her bakes.
Tom
Age: 31
Occupation: Creative entrepreneur
From: London
Tom learnt how to bake scones and flapjacks alongside his mum and grandmother.
After stepping back from the advertising agency he set up, he recently reconnected with baking and brings a creative flair to his beautifully presented bakes.
Leighton
Age: 59
Occupation: Software delivery manager
From: Surrey
Leighton likes to play with traditional Welsh, British and American flavours when it comes to baking, with his favourites like Welsh cakes with peanut butter and Victoria Sponge with key lime pie filling.
Hassan
Age: 30
Occupation: Analytical research & development scientist
From: South Yorkshire
As a scientist, Hassan takes an analytical approach to baking, researching processes thoroughly before getting started on a new recipe.
Aaron
Age: 38
Occupation: Senior systems architect
From: London
Aaron is a passionate baker who fuses French patisserie with Caribbean flair, and is always experimenting with his bakes.
