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As it happenedended

Bake Off final – as it happened: Rahul triumphs and the four other talking points

Until next year, Paul, Prue, Noel and Sandi

Jack Shepherd
Tuesday 30 October 2018 21:56 GMT
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The Great British Bake Off 2018 winner announced

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Another year, another series of The Great British Bake Off comes to an end.

Despite having multiple catastrophes over the course of the final, Rahul managed to win Paul and Prue's adoration to be named this year's champion. Ruby and Kim-Joy tried their hardest, keeping cool heads throughout, but neither had quite the culinary flair of the winning baking wizard.

The Independent live-blogged along with the episode, which you can read below. Before that, here are the five biggest talking points from the episode.

Rahul's showstopping nightmare

While he may have eventually created a stunning showstopper (made to look like a rock garden), Rahul's final bake got off to a horrific start: a glass jar exploded at his workstation because of the heat, contaminating his ingredients and meaning he had to start all over again. Luckily, Paul and Prue offered him an extra 15 minutes to complete the 200 components required to make the showstopper. Talk about pushing yourself.

The wood-fire technical challenge

For apparently the first time in Bake Off history, the finalists' technical challenge did not take place in the tent, but outside. Under the blazing summer sun, the trio made pitta bread. And under the blazing summer sun, they all struggled, particularly Rahul who didn't quite understand how to manage the fire. When Kim-Joy came out the winner of the technical challenge, she seemed a sure-fire hit to take home the winner's trophy. Of course, her Atlantis-inspired showstopper couldn't top Rahul's (with Paul calling her's "slightly flat").

Ruby, what happened?

Ruby came into the final a firm favourite to win, having astonished the judges by taking home Star Baker the previous two weeks. However, an unfortunate tasting doughnut to start the final, following by last place in the technical, and Ruby was at the bottom of the pack. On the plus side, if any of these finalists are to become a media personality in the near future, it'll no doubt be the charming Ruby.

Another Rahul misstep

Yes, we've spoken about Rahul's disastrous smashed glass incident, and his inability to keep a fire going. But lest we forget that the eventual winner also managed to burst his icing bag while filling up a doughnut, leaving behind a fruity mess. It's bewildering that Rahul has managed to look after himself in the real world at this point.

And that's that

Every time The Great British Bake Off comes to an end the waterworks start going. There are tears galore on screen, and occasionally even some at home. Perhaps the most heart-wrenching moment this year was Rahul's calling his proud mother to say he won. A lovely moment to end the series on. Until next year, Paul, Prue, Noel and Sandi.

Read along as it happened with our live-blog below. Please allow a moment to load.

Bake Off returns next year on Chanel 4.

And Rahul's storage jar has shattered because of the glass. And he has to start all over again. Disaster! Surely he gets extra time??

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:43

Rahul gets a kiss on the forehead from Sandi to calm him down. Naww. But now he's going to have to bake at a million miles an hour. Poor guy, this one's not even his fault.

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:45

It's 15 minutes extra for Rahul - which will hopefully calm him down. Rahul's stealing the cameras' attention at the moment. Probably because Kim-Joy and Ruby seem to be keeping cool and carrying on.

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:46

"Rahul, one word to describe yourself," asks Noel. The answer: "Depressing." Oh, Rahul. Poor, nervous, glass-shattering Rahul.

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:48

One hour left, and it's been very stressful. How can Rahul make me this stressed! Please don't ever work in a professional kitchen, Rahul, I'm not sure your little heart could take it.

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:50

Kim-Joy's just walking through this, unlike the other two. Surely she's going home with the trophy?

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:51

Saying that, Rahul's looks outrageously good. Must be quite awkward for everyone else just watching in silence.

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:52

Aaaaaaaaand we're done. That's it for the Great British Bake Off 2018. No more bakes. They've done all they can do. Now it's just up to Paul and Prue to decide this year's champion.

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:53

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:53

A poll on Twitter has 69 per cent of voters thinking Kim-Joy will win. However, we haven't had a good look at their showstoppers yet...

j.shepherd30 October 2018 20:55

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