"Great British Bake Off" judge Paul Hollywood lightheartedly suggested he was in a throuple with co-judge Nigella Lawson and his wife, Melissa Spalding. The jest occurred during Tuesday's episode, which featured Audience Choice Week, where viewers at home selected the challenges.

During the signature challenge, where bakers were joined by relatives to create an 'exquisite cheesecake,' contestant Gabe was joined by his partner Ellis. Gabe explained that a third person, Tyler, was also part of their relationship, referring to it as their "go-to boyband." When Paul Hollywood inquired about the term "throuple boyband," Gabe clarified, "There's three of us. A lot of people call it a throuple; we call it a boyband."

Hollywood responded with his joke: "I have a TV partner, and I have a home partner." Gabe quipped back, "Oh, so you're in one as well, really." Lawson, the new judge, responded somewhat awkwardly, "Erm, well... not quite."

A throuple is defined as a committed relationship involving three consenting individuals.

Nigella Lawson has been well-received by viewers this season, with many praising her "love of food" and her apparent genuine enjoyment of the bakes. Social media comments highlighted her passionate approach to tasting, with viewers expressing delight in her "joyous" appreciation of each mouthful.

Elsewhere in the episode, a new format change for the technical challenge drew mixed reactions. Bakers were given free rein to create anything they could recall from memory, leading to a variety of different bakes. While this proved successful for Clara, who was named star baker, viewers questioned how such disparate creations could be fairly judged in a technical challenge. Some described the format as "gimmicky" and "chaotic."

However, the signature challenge saw success for contestant Moyin, who, joined by his mother, received the series' first Hollywood handshake for his cheesecake.

The showstopper challenge required contestants to create a "wearable bake," such as hats or bags. Clara's handbag impressed the judges, while Shannon's biscuit showstopper, "Fairy Wings of the Painted Brook," was deemed not ambitious enough for the final challenge, leading to her elimination. Paul and Nigella noted that while charming, the bake did not meet the criteria for a showstopper.

Shannon became the second contestant to be sent home this series.