Will tonight’s Great British Bake Off final see Suffolk star Sophie Faldo crowned winner?
Tonight is the night the nation has been waiting for, The Great British Bake Off final.
After 10 weeks of show-stopping cakes it all comes to an end at 8pm this evening on Channel 4.
The final is between Ipswich High School pupil Sophie Faldo, safety inspector Kate Lyon and marketer Steven Carter-Bailey.
The Contestants
Sophie, a former soldier, who was crowned star baker in the semi-final, said she had hoped to make it to the top five so was thrilled to be in the final.
She added: “It was a very different feeling walking in for the final. I don’t think I was as nervous because, by then we were used to how it all happened and what we needed to get done, but there was so much more riding on the last week and I certainly felt that.”
Asked if she would do the show all over again, she replied: “Ha ha, if I had to! But the charm of it is the ignorance and not knowing what to expect. It would be a very different beast going back with the knowledge I have now.”
• Read more about Suffolk star Sophie here.
Sophie has been a star baker twice on the show and has never been in danger of being booted off.
The best thing she made was a flawless raspberry, yuzu and white chocolate buche trifle terrine – judge Paul Hollywood said: “If you walked into a Michelin-starred restaurant and had that, you wouldn’t argue.”
Her only downfall during the competition was in caramel week, when she ran out of time while making her Jaffa millionaire shortbreads which collapsed. Judge Paul said they looked hideous, but tasted amazing.
Steven who has been named star baker three times throughout the series, has impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with his lavish decoration.
Finalist Steven has said he does not think his life “will ever be normal again and that is both terrifying and amazing at the same time”.
He said: “I was too frightened to think beyond the week I was in. I didn’t want to get my hopes up week after week because I didn’t know how I would take disappointment.
“When I got to the final, the reality hit and I didn’t know what to think. I am still amazed I made it, but also incredibly proud.”
He said he thinks going on the show will now change his life.”
He added: “Change always used to scare me, but this time I’m going to try to enjoy it.”
Asked if he would do it again, he replied: “I would drop everything to do this all over again.
“Without a doubt I would walk back into that tent tomorrow and start over.”
Steven’s highlight of the competition was his intricate biscuit chessboard in week two which got him the star baker title.
His biggest fault was his meringue hot-air balloon which failed to hit heights in the semi-final and cracked under the weight.
Judge Prue Leith described the meringue as a tree.
Katie, who is known for raiding the history books in pursuit of unusual flavours, said entering the tent for the last time in the final felt like a win in itself.
She said: “Walking in the tent for the last time was great! I didn’t feel the pressure – it was an achievement to get to the final.
“I was appreciative of the fact it was the last time we would all be baking in the tent so I just enjoyed the last challenge, had fun with it and did my best.”
She added: “I really loved the final showstopper. I of course knew that it would be the final challenge of the series and the last time I would be baking in the tent. There wasn’t the same pressure – it was more about just enjoying the experience.”
The best thing Katie made was in week four with her sticky toffee apple caramel cake which was topped with coloured spun sugar fireworks. It was so successful judge Prue asked her for the recipe.
The biggest disaster was during Italian week when the 29-year-old had to be treated by medics because she cut her finger on the fan. Her pizza fell apart and was still raw when it was presented to the judges.
The Judges and presenters
This year new judge Prue Leith joined the show replacing Mary Berry when the show departed BBC One. But English celebrity chef, Paul Hollywood, remained on the panel.
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