Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Bake Off’s Rahul thanks colleagues in touching Easter cake Instagram post

News

Bake Off’s Rahul thanks colleagues in touching Easter cake Instagram post
News

News

Bake Off’s Rahul thanks colleagues in touching Easter cake Instagram post

2019-04-20 17:45 Last Updated At:17:45

The Great British Bake Off 2018 winner praised his colleagues for bringing him out of his shell.

Rahul Mandal, the winner of the ninth series of The Great British Bake Off (GBBO), thanked his colleagues for their friendship as he posted an Easter cake photo on Instagram.

Along with a photo of a chocolate and orange cake, decorated with an egg-shaped biscuit, Rahul posted a touching comment to his colleagues.

In it, he thanked them for making him feel a part of their circle.

He said: “During my time in UK, the holidays are the hardest time to spend!

“During weekdays of term time, you have your colleagues and students around during the week, whereas in the weekends especially during holidays … you left on your own!

“It is difficult to be alone! Being an introvert and shy in a new place, it is challenging to trust people and make friends.

“And there are so many people who are there to hurt and make fun of the shy.”

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Easter is the time to celebrate spring, rebirth of nature from the grey cold winter, an awakening of colour, flowers, and leaves! During my time in UK, the holidays are the hardest time to spend! During weekdays of term time, you have your colleagues and students around during the week, whereas in the weekends specially during holidays…you left on your own! It is difficult! When as a species your brain and mind is wired to be in a community and surrounded by other people, it is difficult to be alone! Being an introvert and shy in a new place, it is challenging to trust people and make friends. And there are so many people who are there to hurt and make fun of the shy, the weakest! For me, after certain point, rather than making friends I get used to loneliness. It hurts, it makes you feel even weaker and it destroys your confidence. But, thanks to some of my colleagues, it changed slightly! Being through a lot, I took time to trust them and being friends. I still go through a lot of ups and downs every day, which on my own would be very, very difficult. This cake is just a ‘thank you’ to them! Thanks for helping me, thanks for making feel a part of your friend’s circle, thanks for tolerating me, thanks for stopping me when I am about to do any mistake! This cake is for them, who brought spring to my rather cold and lonely life, thanks a lot! It is a Chocolate and orange cake sandwiched with caramel and coated with chocolate fudge buttercream and orange buttercream! (No wonder why so much “buttercream”!) and decorated with a Fennel Egg shaped biscuit, decorated with royal icing! (and the stained glass bit is mango and passionfruit flavoured)! . .Happy Easter! Hope the spring bring love joy and happiness to your life.  And help others, share the joy and happiness with everyone specially the quietest student/colleague in your group! Please don’t be the person who hurt the weakest! Be nice. There is nothing wrong to be nice to others, it doesn’t cost us much, apart from just ‘be nice'! . .#bakeoff #greatbritishbakingshow #easter #easteregg #biscuit #royalicing #royalicingcookies #chocolatecake #lonliness #confidence #thankyou #kindness PC: @yunokcraze

A post shared by Dr Rahul Mandal (@bakewithrahul) on

The post received more than 5,000 likes from Rahul’s fans in under two hours.

He added: “Thanks to some of my colleagues, it changed slightly… Thanks for helping me, thanks for making feel a part of your friend’s circle, thanks for tolerating me, thanks for stopping me when I am about to do any mistake!

“This cake is for them, who brought spring to my rather cold and lonely life, thanks a lot!”

Rahul became a favourite on the 2018 series of GBBO after he told the programme that he started baking to make friends when he moved to the UK at the age of 23.

ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — Tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing their homes due to clashes between the government and Kurdish forces in a contested area in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo.

Signs of the fighting can be seen in the damage to buildings, cars, and ammunition littering the ground, as first responders start entering the area.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

A member of Syrian security forces inspects a tunnel in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes broke out Tuesday, Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A member of Syrian security forces inspects a tunnel in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes broke out Tuesday, Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A member of Syrian security forces stands next to a destroyed vehicle in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A member of Syrian security forces stands next to a destroyed vehicle in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civil Defense remove a damaged car in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civil Defense remove a damaged car in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

An aerial view shows the area in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

An aerial view shows the area in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A defaced picture of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, lies on the floor in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, where clashes broke out on Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A defaced picture of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, lies on the floor in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, where clashes broke out on Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Sandbag barriers used as fighting positions by Kurdish fighters, left inside a destroyed mosque in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Sandbag barriers used as fighting positions by Kurdish fighters, left inside a destroyed mosque in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles and ammunitions left at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles and ammunitions left at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A woman and her children react with distress as civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A woman and her children react with distress as civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents displaced from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods take shelter inside a mosque in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of Aleppo. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents displaced from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods take shelter inside a mosque in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of Aleppo. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents carry their belongings as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents carry their belongings as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A woman sits in a car with her bird as she is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods, after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A woman sits in a car with her bird as she is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods, after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A Syrian government soldier helps an old woman who is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A Syrian government soldier helps an old woman who is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents carry their belongings, as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents carry their belongings, as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Kafaa Abu Sheikh, right, the mother of Syrian girl Fatima al-Zahra, 4, checks on her daughter who was wounded when clashes broke out between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Kafaa Abu Sheikh, right, the mother of Syrian girl Fatima al-Zahra, 4, checks on her daughter who was wounded when clashes broke out between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Medics treat a Syrian man at the Al-Razi Hospital, injured during ongoing clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters, in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Medics treat a Syrian man at the Al-Razi Hospital, injured during ongoing clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters, in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A car burns during clashes between Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A car burns during clashes between Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian forces officer checks the IDs of residents fleeing the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian forces officer checks the IDs of residents fleeing the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

An aerial view shows Syrian residents in vehicles, queueing to flee from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

An aerial view shows Syrian residents in vehicles, queueing to flee from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Recommended Articles