A software engineer from Kent was the first to leave the 2021 Great British Bake Off after it made its eagerly-anticipated return to screens tonight.

Tom, from Maidstone, was one of the 12 bakers taking part in this year's series, hosted by Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding.

However, the 28-year-old failed to impress judges Dame Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood in the opening show.

It started badly for Tom, whose black forest mini rolls were "not much of a mini roll", according to fellow Kent resident Hollywood, who was also critical of the cherry content.

He came fifth in the technical task to make a malt loaf.

Requiring a good round in the show-stopper, when contestants had to make a gravity-defying creation, the classical music fan made a three-tiered lemon and almond cake depicting a concert hall.

When Leith said she was disappointed, he admitted: "It was a bit of a disaster to be honest."

"Oh blimey. It's the worst bake I've ever done. That's pretty bad."

Hollywood remarked: "Although there is a little bit of a lean, there is no way that's defying gravity."

Commenting on his performance, Tom, who according to the show runs a model train business with his family, added: "Oh blimey. It's the worst bake I've ever done. That's pretty bad."

When revealed by Lucas as the baker to be leaving, Tom said: "Absolutely, that's fair enough. Did not go to plan at all."

Despite being first to go, he said he was proud of himself and would miss the other bakers.

Ahead of Bake Off's return, it was revealed he had been the only boy in his primary school baking club.

His mum was said to describe him as the "midnight baker" as before he moved out she would often wake up to a sweet treat... and a pile of washing up.

But it was not to be for Tom, who could not emulate last year's Kent contestant, Laura Adlington, who made it to the final.

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