Tamal bakes with lime and mascarpone and malted honeycomb, which are judged to be safe but produce “a cracking job”. Nadiya delights with perfect pastry and full fillings of rose, pistachio and white chocolate and mocha with hazelnut.

This week’s educational excursion introduces us to the origins of macarons by way of the enterprising nuns of Nancy. (That’s the city in France, not a convent-based sideline from last year’s champion).

The technical challenge is Mokatines - a recipe from the appropriately titled, Baking Bible, by Our Lady of the Immaculate Confection. Actually it originally appeared in Mary’s Ultimate Cake Book, but recycled recipes play havoc with a theme.

It’s a fiddly little coffee concoction. Once again, Mary says she is looking for “sheer perfection”. I feel sure she’ll have a branded range of hosiery by the end of the year.

Paul J hasn’t genned up on his genoise, first separating his eggs and then starting again from scratch. At the gingham altar it’s a highly critical Mass. Mary explains what she’s looking for. The cake should be light, the layers equal, the decoration consistent. Buttercream becomes “crème au beurre”, which Mary pronounces with the confident aplomb of a pastry Piaf. Despite his best efforts, Paul finishes last and Nadiya triumphs again – oddly claiming her success has been the result of an out of body experience.

For the showstopper, the bakers must create religieuse a l’ancienne. For those who remember the ‘ugly nuns’ of series four’s religieuse challenge, this is the Mother Superior – a towering stack of éclairs. In short, it’s a choux shrine.

Paul J compensates for round one’s missing banana by adding extra banana extract to his vanilla, raspberry and basil construction. The spirit is willing, but the frame is weak. It’s not the only one to collapse.

Nadiya surprises with sweet flavours of bubblegum and peppermint cream, which are judged a little overpowering. Her icing is pretty intense too – she coordinates it with a turquoise tin tea tray and her tower leans under chromatic pressure.

Flora’s lime, basil and coconut steeple is in need of a restoration fund. Oh and the divine Paul can’t taste the lime… or the basil… or the coconut.

Ian’s mildly risqué ‘nun with hidden passion’ includes passion fruit with cardamom and coffee. It’s judged to be very good. Tamal’s also getting passionate with passion fruit, adding mango, raspberry and pistachios. He prays for strength when his sugar syrup adhesive starts crystallising.

As the judges prepare to decide the bakers’ fates, Mary seeks spiritual guidance and Sue offers a hip flask.

So who’s about to be blessed by St Honoré and who’s about to be St Home? Well, it’s Nadiya who retakes her place on the patisserie pedestal and poor Paul J has his personal exodus.

Next week, it is foretold that the tent will run with rivers of chocolate. Saints preserve us.