Knot your aprons. Stand by your workbenches. And for one last time this series, bake! Yes, Tuesday evening sees the grand final of The Great British Bake Off. They’ve even put a fairground in the grounds of Welford Park to celebrate. Cue well-endowed squirrels riding on the waltzer.
This might be the 15th series, but the hit calorific contest is still one of TV’s tastiest propositions. It remains Channel 4’s top-rated show, attracting almost 7 million viewers a week, plus a devoted international fanbase via Netflix.
Over the past nine weeks of Paul Hollywood hard stares and Alison Hammond pratfalls, a dozen of Britain’s best amateur bakers have been whittled down to three. This sweet-toothed trio will now do doughy battle over scones, tarts, plaited rolls and a hanging tiered celebration cake.
But who will take home that coveted glass cake-stand trophy (definitely not available at Lakeland)? Here’s our handy guide to the floury-palmed runners and butter-fingered riders …
Dylan: the pirate of pastry
Who: This year’s patisserie prodigy, Dylan Bachelet from Buckinghamshire, would become the contest’s joint youngest winner. During 1970s week he casually dropped the bombshell that he wasn’t born until 2004. Way to make viewers feel ancient. An avid skateboarder and painter, he achieved four A* grades at A-level and was set to start a degree in biomedical engineering but got waylaid by food. He now has ambitions to become a chef. His swashbuckling sense of style – flowing locks, goatee, eyebrow slit, hoop earrings and chunky necklaces, often teamed with a bandana or baker boy cap – means he resembles an AI-generated musketeer. Or perhaps an extra from The Princess Bride. He went viral when the New York Times dubbed him “the Captain Jack Sparrow of baking”.
Bake Off journey™: His gap year travels and fusion roots – Dylan’s mother is Indian, his father Japanese-Belgian – mean he mixes spice and sweetness with flair. He’s been dubbed the tent’s “flavour king”. Like fellow finalist Georgie, he’s been star baker twice and won three technical challenges. Dylan has also received three Hollywood handshakes, the joint most in the contest’s history. “I’m sick of shaking your hand,” said hard-to-please Paul.
Best moment: Dessert week, when he achieved the rare “perfect trifecta” of handshake, technical win and star baker.
Worst moment: Autumn week, when he caused outrage by admitting: “I don’t really like autumn. It’s a bit of a boring season.”
Most likely to: Say “This is sick” when his high-concept cakes receive a compliment.
Chances of winning: High. Hot favourite Dylan looks like the winner-in-waiting, but overambition and inexperience mean he might still falter. Either way, with five times the Instagram following of his rivals, gastronomic stardom looks guaranteed. Me hearties.
Georgie: the Welsh wonder
Who: The last woman standing is 34-year-old Georgie Grasso. The paediatric nurse from Carmarthenshire is proud to be Bake Off’s first ever Welsh finalist. Georgie attributes her love of food to her days spent learning classical cookery from her nonna Rosa. She’s a keen gardener, forager and obsessive crockery collector who whips up feasts in her enviable farmhouse kitchen for her husband and three children. Like a Dr Dolittle of the valleys, Georgie owns a veritable menagerie: 10 chickens, two ducks, two dogs and a cat. She’s won further fans by being admirably open, discussing her ADHD, postnatal depression and experience of stillbirth.
Bake Off journey™: After a nervy start, Georgie became the most consistent of the final trio, blending traditional techniques with Mediterranean flavours. She was crowned star baker in caramel week and 1970s week, winning three technicals along the way. She had a serious wobble in the semi-final but recovered to deservedly go through.
Best moment: Receiving the first ever “Hollywood pat” (a variation on the silverback judge’s trademark handshake) for her Pesto Brunch savoury Chelsea buns.
Worst moment: Saying “I quit!” last week when she struggled to comprehend Paul’s recipe for an eight-layered opera cake. After being taken aside by co-host Hammond for a cockle-warming pep talk, Georgie bounced back.
Most likely to: Sport a colourful summer dress with signature sleeves and celebrate in Welsh when a bake goes well.
Chances of winning: Middling. She’s been in Dylan’s shadow for most of the series but this could be the Welsh dragon’s time to roar. Pob lwc!
Christiaan: the designer Dutchman
Who: Netherlands-born, London-based menswear designer Christiaan de Vries, 34, only discovered the show when his partner Nick, a Bake Off superfan, forced him to watch it. Little did Nick suspect that he’d enter a few years later and go all the way. Christiaan’s food combines his eye for modern design with his passion for gardening, resulting in floral scents, citrus notes and polished presentation. He works for a leading fashion brand, which shows in his breathtakingly stylish bakes.
Bake Off journey™: Christiaan has become known as the tent’s “nearly man”. He’s been runner-up in the technical challenge on three occasions but never won. He’d also never won star baker until last week’s semi-final. This dark horse snuck up on the rails but has hit form at the right time.
Best moment: His Finding Home puppet theatre showstopper in biscuit week. It told the story of a little biscuit boy who didn’t fit in until he made friends and discovered his true self in a magical white tent. Hollywood shook Christiaan’s hand and said it was “one of the best things I’ve seen in 15 years”. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Worst moment: 1970s week, when his eye-wateringly potent Advocaat gateau nearly got the judges drunk. “Too boozy for Prue?” shrugged Christiaan. “Who knew that was even possible?”
Most likely to: Make co-host Noel laugh with his adorable pronunciation of “flavour” or “thermometer”.
Chances of winning: Slim. Christiaan may be the underdog but he’s only three bakes away from the title. Could he take centre stage at last?