A snail-shaped loaf that took on a rather risque shape left judge Paul Hollywood in fits of giggles as The Great British Bake Off tackled bread week.

A bread sculpture in the shape of a countryside scene, complete with a snail and a mushroom, raised eyebrows with the phallic shape of the baked mollusc.

Julia Chernogorova said of her showstopper: “That just looks inappropriate,” before she presented it to judges Hollywood and Prue Leith.

The Great British Bake Off
Julia’s bread prompted giggles (Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4 Television)

Hollywood giggled as he said: “I like the snail.”

His smirking prompted host Sandi Toksvig to ask: “Is there something about the shape of the snail?”

As Hollywood bent over laughing, Leith said: “Paul, are you going to pull yourself together?”

The technical challenge of a cottage loaf also provided rich material for innuendo, as Hollywood relayed his technique for merging the two layers of the loaf.

The Great British Bake Off
Hollywood with Prue Leith, Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding (Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4 Television)

He said: “It’s about making both of the balls quite tight and the way I do it is to drive my finger right the way through to the tray underneath.”

Leith appeared amused by this, asking: “Do you flour your finger?”

She added: “You must, otherwise it would stick to the dough!”

Hollywood responded: “I can oil it.”

The cottage loaf also gave the contestant a chance for a double entendre, as Liam Charles said: “You don’t want wonky balls.”