American “Great British Baking Show” contestant Jeff from the Bronx is sick – will he come back?

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for The Great British Bake Off Season 15 Episode 1, aka The Great British Baking Show Collection 12.]

Within one episode The Great British Baking Show won and lost by a competitor who was celebrated as the reality competition’s first American contestant. Will Jeff – a retired university lecturer from the Bronx who now lives in West Yorkshire, England – be back in future episodes?

Premiering on Netflix on Friday, September 27th as the first episode of The Great British Baking Show Collection 12 – Jeff presented a loaf cake for the signature challenge, and then suddenly we were missing from the technical and spectacular challenges.

Co-host Alison Hammond told the other bakers that Jeff had to miss out on the technical and spectacular challenges after his illness. But viewers haven’t seen the last of him.

The good news for Jeff is that he will be back in the second episode of the season, which arrives on Netflix on Friday October 4 – Channel 4 has already confirmed his return, it is said Radio Times. Meanwhile, competitor John won the first episode’s Star Baker, and to the others’ surprise, the judges decided not to send anyone home.

Jeff, 67, learned the basics of baking from his grandmother as a child Radio Times shown separately. He grew up in the Bronx and moved to Britain in 1979 with his English wife, whom he met while she was hitchhiking around the United States.

After the couple had children, Jeff began baking seriously, and in a nod to his Big Apple roots, he is said to be making a mean New York cheesecake. When he’s not in the kitchen, he enjoys playing basketball, swimming, going to the gym, and taking long walks in nature.

The Great British Baking ShowSeason 15, Fridays, Netflix