Bake Off fans were left divided today as David Atherton was announced as this year's champion - despite never being Star Baker.
The self-confessed underdog was up against bookies' favourite Steph Blackwell, a shop assistant who'd won the title four times during the nine-week run and geography teacher Alice Fevronia, who'd clinched it twice.
But it was David who reigned victorious tonight after impressing judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with his showstopper, in which he had to create an illusion picnic basket using only cake, sweet bread and biscuits.
After lifting the trophy, David admitted it was a huge shock. “Honestly it was never in my mind that I thought I could win this.
“It feels so good! It’s been weeks and weeks of intensity and fatigue and then to finish it with this - I saved the best til last, and it’s the best feeling in the world. Week on week other people were stronger, I was always the underdog and yet I just managed to get through.
“All of it is a bit surreal, and I am still trying to process it, but the whole Bake Off journey is non-stop and part of it is just having the stamina.”
However some fans weren't happy about his win, suggesting that he shouldn't have clinched the crown after failing to ever be Star Baker.
One seethed: "how the f** has David, who hasn’t won star baker ONCE in the entire 10 weeks, just won Bake Off ????"
While another commented: "Fuming David won #GBBO Steph has been amazing throughout and had at least one star baker numerous times.."
However others felt he deserved to have won the accolade before and deserved to win the show.
One tweeted: "i think david deserves to win for both his performance today and the 7394748 times he’s been robbed of star baker throughout the series #gbbo."
Another wrote: "David winning the Final today will make up for all the star baker and credit he's earned but not been given #GBBOFinal #GBBO."
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