Bake Off final – as it happened: Rahul triumphs and the four other talking points
Until next year, Paul, Prue, Noel and Sandi
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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 all the gang are here, Dan, Jon, Manon, Bryony. They're all back, and wishing their friends all the best. Naww.
Ruby's does... not look great. Tastes good for the most part, according to Paul, but slightly underwhelming design for the final. Ruby probably does not have this...
Rahul's looks very, very good - if not slightly too sludgy. After all those nerves, and that awkward beginning, the magician comes through. Paul's blown away by the taste. So's Prue. Could this be a huge upset for Kim-Joy?
Kim-Joy's looks pretty great too. A little flat, says pernickety Paul. The flavours are almost there, Prue calling one of the flavours a disappointment. The music's getting darker. Not the showstopper she wanted.
Argh. It's all to play for going into the final ten minutes. They're all worthy winners, really, but perhaps Rahul has edged it with that showstopper. But Kim-Joy! She won the technical!
The two showstoppers in contention to win below... My money is on Rahul. But let's see. Here we go!
Here they come, the finalists coming out to a cheering crowd with their bakes. Nice to see Ruby introducing Rahul to the family.
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