We’re only one episode into the new series of 'The Great British Bake Off' but scandal has already hit the cookery show as it’s been claimed one contestant has received past ‘professional training’. 66 year old Marie Campbell who was named star baker in the first episode of the show last Wednesday (thanks to her Madeira cake and Black Forest gateau) has been accused of not being an 'amateur' baker and receiving professional training.

Great british bake offA new scandal has hit the ‘GBBO'.

The Mail on Sunday reports that Mary has received training at top French school, the famous Ecole Escoffier at the Paris Ritz for a patisserie course before she ran an online cupcake business and taught classes for other chefs.

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However the BBC has already spoken out on the story and confirmed that Marie is not breaking the rules by taking part in the series. According to the Beeb the rules state that contestants can not have had any professional training in the past decade, which is fine for Marie who trained over 30 years ago.

"There are strict criteria to take part in the show and Marie met those criteria," a BBC spokesperson said. "She gained a certificate for one week's training in Paris in 1984, more than 10 years ago. She has not worked professionally as a baker or chef.”

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The programme received more than 10 million viewers for the opening episode of its sixth series last Wednesday. The next episode airs this Wednesday (August 12th) at 8pm on BBC1.