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Diana Beard: I quit Bake Off after losing sense of taste and smell Diana Beard: I quit Bake Off after losing sense of taste and smell
(7 months later)
The Great British Bake Off contestant Diana Beard has said she was forced to leave mid-series after suffering a fall that left her without a sense of taste or smell.The Great British Bake Off contestant Diana Beard has said she was forced to leave mid-series after suffering a fall that left her without a sense of taste or smell.
She told the Guardian: "I don't want people to think I've wimped out. It's very sad that I had to go. Yes, it was hard work, of course it was, but the reason I had to leave the show was because I was down in Newbury and I fainted in the restaurant on the Friday night and I bashed my head and spent a night a night in Basingstoke A&E and I've lost my sense of taste and smell. It's an absolute bummer. My neurologist says it may never come back."She told the Guardian: "I don't want people to think I've wimped out. It's very sad that I had to go. Yes, it was hard work, of course it was, but the reason I had to leave the show was because I was down in Newbury and I fainted in the restaurant on the Friday night and I bashed my head and spent a night a night in Basingstoke A&E and I've lost my sense of taste and smell. It's an absolute bummer. My neurologist says it may never come back."
Beard was at the heart of the baked alaska controversy that rocked the programme on Wednesday night, with the 70-year-old accused of sabotage after removing her fellow contestant Iain Watters' dessert from the freezer to make space for her own.Beard was at the heart of the baked alaska controversy that rocked the programme on Wednesday night, with the 70-year-old accused of sabotage after removing her fellow contestant Iain Watters' dessert from the freezer to make space for her own.
He was eliminated from the show by Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry after throwing the molten pudding in the bin, a decision which was met by a huge public outcry, as many felt Watters had been treated unfairly, and many directing the blame at Beard. He was eliminated from the show by Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry after throwing the molten pudding in the bin, a decision which was met by a huge public outcry, as many felt Watters had been treated unfairly, and many directing the blame at Beard.
The BBC disclosed that Beard will now not appear for the rest of the fifth series of the popular show, but claimed it was due to the 70-year-old falling ill and had nothing to do with the baked alaska incident, which some are calling "Bingate", emphasising that the series is completely pre-recorded.The BBC disclosed that Beard will now not appear for the rest of the fifth series of the popular show, but claimed it was due to the 70-year-old falling ill and had nothing to do with the baked alaska incident, which some are calling "Bingate", emphasising that the series is completely pre-recorded.
Beard said: "My leaving had nothing to do with Iain's baked alaska and in fact I was looking forward to pastry week."Beard said: "My leaving had nothing to do with Iain's baked alaska and in fact I was looking forward to pastry week."
The circumstances surrounding Beard's removal of Watters' dessert from the freezer have proved contentious. While a statement from the BBC stated: "Diana removing Iain's ice-cream from the freezer for less than a minute was in no way responsible for Iain's departure", Watters challenged the programme's account when he spoke to the Guardian on Thursday.The circumstances surrounding Beard's removal of Watters' dessert from the freezer have proved contentious. While a statement from the BBC stated: "Diana removing Iain's ice-cream from the freezer for less than a minute was in no way responsible for Iain's departure", Watters challenged the programme's account when he spoke to the Guardian on Thursday.
Recounting the incident. Beard said the kitchen had been utter chaos and that she "wouldn't dream of knowingly do such a thing to sabotage anyone".Recounting the incident. Beard said the kitchen had been utter chaos and that she "wouldn't dream of knowingly do such a thing to sabotage anyone".
"Yes, I admit I took his ice-cream out of the freezer and this sounds terribly selfish but this was my space and I didn't even see him put it there. I honestly don't know why he put it there. The three of us on that side of the tent, Chetna, Nancy and myself, were told that this was our freezer to use and to manage it to the best of our ability."Yes, I admit I took his ice-cream out of the freezer and this sounds terribly selfish but this was my space and I didn't even see him put it there. I honestly don't know why he put it there. The three of us on that side of the tent, Chetna, Nancy and myself, were told that this was our freezer to use and to manage it to the best of our ability.
"I don't regret taking his baked alaska out of the freezer. Of course I didn't do it viciously but we were all wanting a freezer and it was utter chaos, utter chaos. I thought he had his own freezer.""I don't regret taking his baked alaska out of the freezer. Of course I didn't do it viciously but we were all wanting a freezer and it was utter chaos, utter chaos. I thought he had his own freezer."
She continued: "His baked alaska was out for a very small amount of time. I was very surprised it was so liquid. We all had a limited amount of freezer space. But it's three months ago and I can't remember exactly whether his ice-cream was very liquidy when I took it out of the freezer but I think it must have been.She continued: "His baked alaska was out for a very small amount of time. I was very surprised it was so liquid. We all had a limited amount of freezer space. But it's three months ago and I can't remember exactly whether his ice-cream was very liquidy when I took it out of the freezer but I think it must have been.
"It has to have been. It was very hot and it was horrendous. We were all having trouble and it was utter chaos. Why it was edited in such a way I don't know. I was there to be shot at. It was sad to end my time at Bake Off in such a way.""It has to have been. It was very hot and it was horrendous. We were all having trouble and it was utter chaos. Why it was edited in such a way I don't know. I was there to be shot at. It was sad to end my time at Bake Off in such a way."