It all started back in August, when 12 keen amateur bakers entered the Bake Off tent ready to impress us with their creative baking skills. They’ve survived 27 challenges, including cakes, pies, pastries, tarts, bread, biscuits and puddings from the 70s, 80s and the Victorian era.
Stu went first (him with the hat), followed swiftly by lovely Marie and Dorret, who took her Tracy Emin-inspired unmade bed of cake with her. In week four, we said goodbye to Random Sandy; then in week five, Lithuanian bodybuilder Ugne went a bit off-piste with her flavours and was sent home. In week six, Alvin was foiled by Paul’s flaounes, then firefighter Mat fell foul of Mary’s ladyfingers in week seven. In week eight, we waved goodbye to Prison Paul, his legendary bread lion from week three a mere footnote in Bake Off history. Then, this week, we lost lovely Flora, who once again performed the baking equivalent of writing down everything you know in an exam, without fully answering the question. We’ve all been there.
So who are our final three bakers, and who will win next Tuesday’s grand final? It’s a really tough call this year, as each brings different skills to the Bake Off table. Here’s our run-down on the final three.
Ian Cumming
Travel photographer Ian is this year’s precision baker – he likes his homemade gadgets, and is good with fancy construction. He’s great with flavours, too, particularly if they’re foraged herbs and stuff from his garden, which has also offered up guinea fowl (in egg and bird form). He was an early favourite to win and has been star baker three times, so it is no surprise to see him in the final.
Series high: Winning star baker in weeks two, three and four.
Series low: His beautiful 3D bread flower being entirely overshadowed by Prison Paul’s lion.
Can he win? If it’s all about precision, then maybe. But Ian has admitted that cake is not his forte, and there is always a showstopper cake in the final. Could be his downfall.
Tamal Ray
Trainee anaesthetist Tamal has won legions of fans for his winning smile, his humility and his cool-under-pressure approach. He’s also great with flavours, and is the risk-taker in this year’s final. However, he often struggles with timing, which compromises his attention to detail.
Series high: Tamal’s wistful recollections about a sandwich he once ate, which inspired his week-six vol-au-vents.
Series low: The technical challenge in the same week, when Tamal put the sesame seeds on the inside for an epic flaouna fail.
Can he win? He’s the outsider right now, but history tells us that Bake Off outsiders often come good. He’s also great with cake, and regularly makes wedding cakes for friends and family. If he can master the timing, I wouldn’t bet against him.
Nadiya Hussain
Mum-of-three Nadiya has had the biggest journey in this year’s Bake Off – her basic baking skills are outstanding, and she’s incredibly creative, too. She lacked confidence in the early weeks, but has grown to become the nation’s – and the bookies’ – favourite.
Series high: Winning star baker in week five. I don’t think we’ve ever seen anyone so happy.
Series low: Those bubblegum and peppermint-flavoured eclairs in week eight. Just no.
Can she win? Absolutely. The final is often about going back to basics, and Nadiya is the strongest on core skills. If she can maintain her confidence for the final three bakes, she’ll be a very worthy winner.
So who will win?
My heart says Nadiya, but I wouldn’t discount Tamal. Ian needs to pull something spectacular out of the bag if he’s going to trump the other two. Either way, it’s going to be a cracking final. Who’s your bet for the win?
