Amateur baker Enwezor Nzegwu won through to the next round of hit cooking show The Great British Bake Off.

The father-of-four, who is originally from Harrow, is among the 11 remaining contestant on the BBC1 programme following the first episode broadcast yesterday evening. All the action takes place inside a catering tent pitched this series in Berkshire.

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Contestant Claire Goodwin was booted off by judges Mary Berry, the so-called Queen of Cakes, and baker Paul Hollywood after the competitors had to make a signature Swiss roll, Mary's cherry cake, and a batch of 36 identical miniature cakes.

Enwezor said on the introduction to last night's season opener: "I'm just most excited about being in the tent, to walk in there, have your station, see your ingredients, see your recipe."

Harrow-born and bred Enwezor Nzegwu survived the first episode of the eighth series of The Great British Bake Off
Harrow-born and bred Enwezor Nzegwu survived the first episode of the eighth series of The Great British Bake Off

The 39-year-old, who is half Nigerian and half Japanese, now lives in Southsea in Hampshire and works at the nearby University of Portsmouth as a business consultant in the information services department.

He baked a raspberry and lemon Swiss roll in the first round - for which the contestants were able to plan and practice.

Enwezor Nzegwu's raspberry and lemon Swiss roll
Enwezor Nzegwu's raspberry and lemon Swiss roll

Mary Berry thought it looked "underbaked" and said "the raspberry is bleeding into the sponge and you're not getting the definition".

In the second test, one of the series' infamous technical challenges, the dozen bakers had to produce a cherry cake.

Enwezor was told 'well done' over his Battenburg squares
Enwezor was told 'well done' over his Battenburg squares

Mary said Enwezor's effort was "a little bit dry and slightly overbaked" and remarked that his icing "was just a little bit runny". Paul said: "Distribution [of the cherries in the sponge] was not bad."

Viewers saw the judges place Enwezor in the bottom three after the first two challenges during a chat with series hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.

The Harrow man baked coffee and walnut Battenberg squares in the episode's third and final task.

Enwezor impressed the judges with his walnut and coffee Battenburg cakes
Enwezor impressed the judges with his walnut and coffee Battenburg cakes

Paul called them "cute" and Mary said: "I can't get the two flavours as sort of different. The coffee could have been a lot stronger.

"But I think you've done well to think of something I've never seen."

Paul added: "Very well done."