- Candice Brown becomes seventh Bake Off champion and last winner on the BBC
- Contest moves to Channel 4 after this series
- Jane Beedle gives Candice a run for her money but falls short
- Andrew Smyth won the Technical but disappointed in the Signature and Showstopper
Final unfolded true to form
PE teacher Candice Brown began this final as the favourite and duly delivered. She’s a three-time Star Baker, putting her in the illustrious company of her predecessor as champion, Nadiya Hussain. She’s the second best performer in Technical challenges that the show has ever seen. She’s also delivered the most artistic showstoppers this series, memorably including her sticky-carpeted gingerbread pub and marzipan peacock. As Paul Hollywood said: “You’ve ticked all the boxes and then some.”
It was going to take a near-perfect performance from her fellow finalists – or a doughy disaster for Candice herself – to dislodge her from the front of the pack. Neither occurred. She came joint first in the signature round, second in the technical and top in the showstopper. Jane and Andrew were too inconsistent to run her close. Candice can wear a triumphant shade of lipstick tonight. A book deal and cookery show surely beckon for the telegenic champion.
If Candice doesn't win, I will do a Trump and refuse to accept the result #GBBOFinal #GBBO
— Ant (@Ant_Killeen) October 26, 2016
It's obvious which Victoria Sponge is Candice's because of the frou-frou sugared raspberries dotted around the edges #GBBOFinal
— Laura Craik (@LauraCraik) October 26, 2016
4am in Thailand but huge congrats to the fabulous Candice!!! 🏆🎉🍾 💕 Can't wait to see what's to come for all the bakers!! #GBBOFinal
— Benjamina (@bakedbybenji) October 26, 2016
There's something delightfully sociopathic about making a sausage roll look like a pig #GBBOFinal #GBBO
— Zarte Siempre (@zarteftw) October 26, 2016
Candice continues female domination
Ms Brown becomes the fourth female winner in a row, following Frances Quinn, Nancy Birtwhistle and Nadiya Hussain. Come on, boys – get baking and self-raise your game.
If someone told me I would one day be rooting for a PE teacher over a nerd I would have hit them with my clarinet case https://t.co/qqmJcBZKVq
— helena horton 🐱 (@horton_official) October 26, 2016
Royal theme was well-judged
It was fitting for the marquee’s very own monarch, Mary Berry, to announce that this final had gone royal for the Queen’s 90th birthday year.
The three rounds covered a crown, a Victoria sponge and a regal picnic fit for a Queen – replete with British classics, including Her Majesty’s favourite chocolate celebration cake. As Union Jack bunting fluttered in the breeze, it all set a proudly patriotic mood for the last ever episode on the BBC.
Jane undone by repeat of collar catastrophe
The most experienced finalist, Jane Beedle, should have known better than to repeat her mistake from Botanical Week. A month ago, she tried to use an acetate collar to print florals around the sides of her showstopper. It backfired and Paul Hollywood compared the finished cake to “colourful mashed potato”.
It clearly rankled, so she had another go here, attempting a white chocolate design on her celebration cake. Risky. It stuck to the acetate again, forcing her into some hasty – but admittedly rather good – improvisation with icing and glitter. Jane was probably too far behind Candice by that stage for it to matter too much but it meant a disappointing end to her Bake Off run.
when in doubt ALL OF THE GLITTER! #gbbo #TeamJane
— Ariadne Griffin (@Ariadne_Griffin) October 26, 2016
Was routing for #TeamJane but it's so cute her and Candice have stayed friends after the show ❤️❤️ #GBBOFinal
— Dana (@Dana_xmoore) October 26, 2016
If Jane doesn't win this I'm going to bake my TV for 40-45 minutes at 245 degrees. #GBBOFinal #TeamJane
— Carl Hendrick (@C_Hendrick) October 26, 2016
Black sheep flocked to appear on-camera
Like series two’s notorious squirrel (#MayContainNuts), a bid for Bake Off stardom was made by the black sheep gambolling around Welford Park’s grounds. They appeared in several cutaways and clearly loved the limelight. They need an agent to shepherd them to casting calls.
Hats off to everyone who have made a fabulous show.Great final Will miss the tents the rain the little black sheep 🐑🍰👏👏#GBBO
— Linda Perkins (@lindaperkins121) October 26, 2016
Andrew was precise in timing but not in taste
With his colour-coded spreadsheets and detailed schematics, Cambridge-educated aeronautics expert Andrew Smyth brings an engineer’s eye to his bakes. It paid off in the technical round, when he weighed his eggs, measured his batter and baked a victorious Victoria sandwich.
Either side of the technical, though, Mr Precision was patchy. His muscovado meringue crown was sickly sweet and lacked definition. He was the only finalist not to get the fabled Hollywood handshake. And his picnic showstopper was hit and miss.
Ultimately, I couldn’t help wondering if one of the other eliminated youngsters, Tom Gilliford and Benjamina Ebuehi, would have run Candice closer. Still, Andrew can look back on creations like his interlocking cog-shaped pies and cakey Ferris Wheel with freckly satisfaction. Let’s gloss over those phallic jousting knights.
NOW he's REALLY sickened! #NoHandshake
— Marian Keyes (@MarianKeyes) October 26, 2016
Andrew must win, for the glory of Excel! #GBBO #GBBOFinal
— Michael (@dhorizon) October 26, 2016
“At home” clips were enjoyably nosy
The Bake Off final always features brief glimpses of the bakers at home, just to satisfy our curiosity. There were no sob stories, like you might get on certain other reality contests. Just proud families, nice kitchens and the odd revealing detail – including the facts that Andrew missed his graduation ceremony because he was too busy baking or that Jane used to have an Anita Dobson hairdo.
Spin-off for Candice's parents Sue and Paul! #gbbo
— Nick Walker (@nickw84) October 26, 2016
Paul and Mary, Andrew did not miss his graduation so that you could make Candice the winner.#GBBOFinal
— Chloe. (@undeadjones) October 26, 2016
I love Jane's hair in this photo. #GBBOFinal pic.twitter.com/hvpfMoK6QH
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) October 26, 2016
Selasi's party looked almost better than the final itself
The semi-finalist has been hosting weekly viewing bashes at his home in west London since week one and has been cooking up a feast for those lucky enough to get an invite.
Philly Cheesesteak kinda evening! Brisket, Onions, Peppers, melted cheese, Roll and some random other veg for vegetarians and vegans 🙈! Oh and look at the lovely ALL edible botanical __garden by the talented @mandemspang #bakeOffWednesdays
What a dude! @ravsbansal awesome baker and a true master with flavours! Great seeing you again lastnight! See you soon 😉 #KeepSmilingBuddy #GBBO
But Selasi went all out for the final. Inviting around 50 guests over to his place, he decided to order in pizza instead (and who can blame him) and bought a lot of bottles of fizz to go with it. And then there were the confetti cannons.
Leaning tower? 45-50 guests means no cooking 🙈! #Pizza and #Booze #GBBOfinal #Partay
Thanks to all the bakers for coming to the party! They're in there somewhere! Great finals #gbbofinal now time to dance and drink
It was a fitting farewell to the Beeb
Sorry to remind you but this was the last ever episode to be broadcast on the BBC and showcased many of the elements that make Bake Off so beloved.
There was cockle-warming chemistry between the contestants. Judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood were the ideal blend of exacting and supportive (witness not one but two Hollywood handshakes). Co-presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins combined cheeky innuendo with downright daftness.
Mary, Mel and Sue now leave the tent for good. They will be much missed and fans will fear for the show’s future on Channel 4. I’ll wager damp eyes were being dabbed with tea towels nationwide. Even the cakes were in tiers.
But it's not entirely over: there's an extra follow-up episode on Thursday on BBC One at 8pm. Class of 2015 will revisit last year's contestants (that's Nadiya, Tamal and co) and see how they've been getting on since. And of course, entertaining spin-off show An Extra Slice is on Friday at 8.30pm. Good bake.
This is like the last nice holiday you have as a family before your dad runs off with the bimbo from next door. #GBBO #GBBOFinal
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanJohnNelson) October 26, 2016
#GBBOFinal contestants must make a wall out of hardened crust to divide Mary, Sue, and Mel on one side & Paul on the other.
— Fearnan Booyeb (@TiernanDouieb) October 26, 2016
The End Of #GBBO
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) October 26, 2016
It's all over, fun is finished
No showstopper left to make.
So sad. So silly.
On your marks
Get Set
Break.#GBBOFinal
Thank you Mel, thank you @sueperkins thank you Mary. #GBBO genuinely made the world a nicer, happier, kinder place. The fondest farewell ❤️
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) October 26, 2016
Final as it happened
An emotional, era-ending episode. Here's your bake-by-bake recap...
The last Bake Off as we know it
So the lipstick-loving PE teacher from Bedfordshire becomes the last Bake Off winner on the BBC. Good bake, Ms Brown, and the end of an era. Stay with us for reaction and analysis...
Catch-up captions
Always enjoy this bit - on-screen captions fill us in on what the bakers have been up to since leaving the tent. Louise has changed her wedding venue from that collapsing gingerbread church. Dancing Val's planning a baking holiday to Ayia Napa. Tom's landed a new job as a designer (hopefully not of phallic loaves). Selasi's soon to be biking around Europe - if he can be bothered to get up off the tent floor. Jane's learning French. She and Candice are planning a bakers' road trip together. Aww.
Candice celebrates
A trotty celebration. Tears of emotion. "This means more to me than anyone will ever realise," says Candice. "I did it. I'm good. I'm good enough." She's engulfed by her family and friends.
Candice Brown is Bake-Off champion
The bookie’s favourite clinches it and deservedly so. Joint first in the signature round, second in the technical and top in the showstopper, Candice thoroughly deserves her victory. From her gingerbread pub to her marzipan peacock, she’s delivered consistently all series - winning three Star Baker awards along the way.
And the winner is…
Everyone gathers on Welford Park’s impeccably manicured lawns for the announcement of the winner, while the judges debate this "humdinger" of a showstopper. This is the big moment. And the winner of the 2016 Great British Bake Off is… drum roll… dramatic pause…
Decision time
Andrew thinks he’s out of it and mouths “It’s you two” at Jane. He’s probably right - Jane has ran Candice closest but has fallen short, I fear.
This is more like it
Candice’s sausage rolls, styled like “little piggies”, are delicious, as are her mini quiches. Lots of Mary Berry mentions of "lairs" (that's "layers" to you and I). The olives are overpowering the cheese flavour in her scones and her tarts are a tad overbaked. Paul leaves an interminable 20-second pause after tasting Candice's chocolate cake… Before declaring it “lovely”. Title’s in the bag, surely?
Candice could seal it
Like Jane, I don’t think Andrew’s done quite enough. Barring a showstopping disaster, the balance has tipped towards Candice.
Andrew’s showstopper gets rated
Andrew’s picnic is also “beautifully displayed” but the baking is patchy: raw pastry in his sausage rolls, the smoked cheese flavour isn’t coming through in his scores, his quiche pastry is overworked and his strawberry tarts have the dreaded soggy bottom. His chocolate cake, made to his grandmother’s recipe, is the star piece. Well played, grandma. Poor Andrew looks like he might cry.
Judgement for Jane
It’s a two-person job lugging these epic showstoppers up to the gingham altar. First up, it’s Jane. “It looks right regal,” says Mary approvingly of her colourful hamper selection - until pesky Paul points out raw pastry in her sausage rolls. The butternut squash flavour isn’t coming through in Jane’s scones, but her salmon mini-quiches and summer berry tarts are much better. The chocolate cake is also a triumph but “shame about the collar”. I fear she hasn’t done quite enough to win.
Time’s up
Five hours and 49 bakes later, the finalists have finished. They flop wearily into a relieved group hug. Phew. It was exhausting just watching them. Who needs to refuel with cake?
Jane’s gateau gamble backfires
We feared that trying a pesky collar again was an accident waiting to happen. So it has proved. Her over-chilled white chocolate wrap won’t peel off the paperand Jane has to hastily improvise by throwing glitter at her cake instead. We’ve all been there. But this is the final - is that a fatal error?
Jane’s in a flap
As the pressure mounts and clock counts down, Andrew says “screw the measurements” (naughty Mr Precision). Meanwhile, Jane is talking to herself and getting in a right old ruddy-faced tizz.
Jane gets hot under the collar
She tried to add a floral collar to her showstopper in Botanicals Week and it went wrong, leading which led Paul Hollywood to compare the finished cake to “colourful mashed potato”. Now Jane is attempting it again on her chocolate celebration cake. Risky.
Bakers’ reunion outside the tent
As is traditional, the eliminated bakers return for the end-of-series summer fête, when the winner gets crowned. We get reacquainted with Selasi, Kate, Benjamina, Rav and co, which is rather lovely - like welcoming old friends.
At home with Jane
Down in Kent, the __garden designer has an enviable kitchen and articulate children. In the family album snaps shown on-screen, it seems she also had huge brunette curls and a possible sideline as an Anita Dobson lookalike.
At home with Andrew
Andrew is also all about family, theming his bakes around his clan’s favourites and gran's recipe. His proud parents are filmed sitting on their vast lawn, which seems to take up most of Northern Ireland. His mother reveals that Andrew missed his own graduation ceremony because he was baking. A bachelor of dough science.
At home with Candice
The London-born bookies’ favourite is theming her showstopper “For Pearly Kings & Queens”. She’s a family girl, so we get to meet her proud, salt-of-the-earth Cockney parents, and how her grandmother Margaret inspired her to bake from the tender age of four. Aww. No sign of her pug Dennis, though, sadly.
Andrew Excels
Leaving nothing to chance, the engineering nerd has a colour-coded spreadsheet with minute-by-minute timings. Attaboy.
Biggest showstopper ever
It’s a whopper - the most bakes ever requested. The finalists have five hours to whip up a chocolate celebration cake, 12 sausage rolls, 12 mini quiches, 12 savoury scones and 12 fruit and custard tarts. A total of 49 items. With one oven. And probably a nervous breakdown.
Still all to bake for
It’s pretty evenly poised going into the showstopper round. The Bake-Off 2016 title is still up for grabs. You could cut the tension with a breadknife.
Andrew’s back in it
In a shock result, Jane comes third - her sponge is too big with gluey jam. Tut tut. Candice is second - her buttercream is grainy and her jam is runny but it tastes a little better than Jane’s. Andrew wins and breathes a big sigh of relief.
Wot no gingham altar?
Breaking the habit of a lifetime, Mel Giedroyc tells the bakers to bing their completed Victorian sandwiches up to the “gingham table”. This is the sort of needless tinkering with a winning formula that we can probably expect when the show moves to Channel 4.
Playing to Jane’s strengths
Jane is a classic home baker with 30 years' more experience than the other two. Surely she should win this?
Andrew weighs his eggs
I know he’s Mr Precision but seriously, who does that?
Technical with a twist
Mary Berry sets the technical challenge and oh my, it’s a goodie. A classic Victorian sandwich. Simple, you might think. Except the minimal instructions merely say: “Make two Victorian sandwiches in 20cm tins. Fill with raspberry jam and buttercream.” No method. No measurements. The bakers have just memory and instinct to go on. A fiendish one for the final, and last year's semi-finalist Tamal Ray agrees.
This is a GREAT idea for a technical! Although thy could have been extra cruel and taken away the scales. #GBBOFinal
— Tamal Ray (@DrRayBakes) October 26, 2016
Black sheep of the family
A quick cutaway to Berkshire’s gambolling black sheep. Let’s face it, they’re no match for THAT squirrel.
Andrew falls behind after first round
Candice quips that Paul’s “giving out handshakes willy-nilly”. Poor Andrew says he needs to win the technical round to stay in contention. No pressure.
Hollywood handshakes for Candice and Jane
Candice’s signature looks beautifully finished , tons of pipework and tastes lovely, earning her the coveted handshake from Paul Hollywood. Jane’s “pavlova trifle” also impresses the exacting judge and he gives her a double handshake - the first time he’s done a “Roman clasp” in Bake Off history. High praise indeed.
Andrew’s mer-wrong
Meringue judgement time. Andrew’s Crunch Caramel & Cassis Meringue Crown lacks definition due his runny meringue and it’s sickly sweet. Oops.
Purple reign
Andrew presents his meringue crown on a purple model of a head. Perhaps a subtle tribute to His Royal Purpleness, singer Prince, who sadly died six months ago.
Paul Hollywood on the prowl
The master baker is pacing around the tent like a silvery panther, peering at bakes and playing mind games.
Candice does some baby talk
Which is an ickle wickle bit annoyingsies. Infantilisingypoos. Meanwhile, Jane's making a "blueberry dam".
Jane’s bottom is cracking
I have nothing more to add.
Andrew turns over a new leaf
He's made his praline on the wrong side of the greaseproof paper. He uses the term "facepalm", like the millennial he is
"Beaten until stiff"
Is that a single entendre? Everyone's piping meringue. It's oddly tense to watch.
Pavlovas all round
All three finalists have plumped for pavlova-style creations. Jane’s is red, white and blue, with fresh British fruit. Andrew is recreating the jubilee crown in gold-sprayed muscovado meringue. Candice, typically, is going the extra mile with two different types of meringues and an extra tier.
Camaraderie in the tent
Everyone’s wishing each other good luck. You don’t get that on ITV2’s Love Island.
First innuendo of the evening
As the signature challenge is set - a filled meringue crown with three layers - Sue says that the famous foursome have “already have a a sponge sceptre and several jellied orbs”.
Marquee stylewatch
Fairly low-key style choices for this final - not a directional blazer floral bomber jacket in sight. Sue’s in a blue blazer, Mel’s gone grey, Mary Berry’s in the pink. Paul Hollywood is looking mean in a black shirt. As for the finalists: Jane’s in a floral smock, Andrew’s in a blue shirt and chino-style short (textbook Brit tourist aboard) and Candice has opted for a lacy “LBD” with wedge sandals.
Runners and riders
A brief montage to reacquaint us with the bakers. Jane is a “home style baker” who got off to a flying start by being crowned Star Baker in week one. Andrew is “Mr Precision”, meticulous in his methods and reigning Star Baker. Candice goes the extra mile but sometimes needs to rain in her ambition and get the baking basics right.
And we’re off!
“In the beginning, there were 12,” narrates Sue Perkins. “Now there are three.” Which sounds slightly like nine bakers have been slayed. Probably by Mary Berry for using shop-bought fondant.
Candice is bookies’ favourite
Going into tonight’s final, Candice is the bookmakers’ odds-on favourite - partly because she’s won three Star Baker titles to Andrew’s two and Jane’s one. Who are you rooting for? Are you #TeamJane, #TeamCandice or #Team Andrew? A Beedle-maniac, a Brown-ista or a Smyth-sonian? Five minutes until we go over to the marquee…
It’s the end of an floury era
Fifteen minutes the last ever Bake Off on the BBC. The last to star Mary Berry, Mel and Sue. It’s going to be emotional *dabs eyes with teatowel*.
This is it, cake-lovers and dough devotees
The big one. Not just the final of The Great British Bake Off but the last ever episode to be broadcast on the BBC. Who will rise to the occasion like a perfect scone and be crowned the last champion on the Beeb?
Good evening and welcome to our Bake Off liveblog for the grand final. It's showtime at 8pm on BBC One, when our three surviving bakers - pouting PE teacher Candice Brown, model of cakey consistency Jane Beedle and ginger engineering ninja Andrew Smyth - will enter the famous marquee to do bready battle for the last time.
Last week’s Patisserie-themed semi-final saw Andrew named Star Baker and cult hero Selasi Gbormittah sadly sent home.
Tonight, it’s a royal-themed final. But it's not entirely over: there will be an extra follow up episode on BBC One tomorrow at 8pm. Class of 2015 will revisit the contestants of last year and see how they've been getting on since. And, of course, An Extra Slice is on Friday at 8.30pm.
We'll be liveblogging all evening, providing build-up, rolling coverage, recaps and analysis, so watch along with us. Please join in too - you can email me on michael.hogan@ telegraph.co.uk or tweet me on @michaelhogan. I'll keep an eye on both and report the highlights here. On your marks. Get set. And for the last time…. baaaaake!
It's all happening at Selasi's house
Is it too late to hop in a taxi round to the semi-finalist's pad?
Leaning tower? 45-50 guests means no cooking 🙈! #Pizza and #Booze #GBBOfinal #Partay pic.twitter.com/gnHWD6uzrz
— Selasi Gbormittah (@selasigb) October 26, 2016
On our way to @selasigb and his #GBBO party - best way to watch! @RavSBansal @LouBaraDa @katebarmby @michaelgeo96 @kate_gilliford pic.twitter.com/wsxF3FFybf
— Thomas Gilliford (@Tom_gilliford) October 26, 2016
Selasi has pulled out all the party stops
The laidback Ghanaian is a banker, so a few bottles of fizz should barely put a dent in his wallet. But it seems there will also be confetti cannons in Hammersmith this evening. This man certainly knows how to throw a party.
Tip of the iceberg!ready!Special guests arriving soon in a convoy of cars 😉. Celebrations will be AWESOME #GBBOfinal! Place to be tonight😉 pic.twitter.com/7E11NP2Mk7
— Selasi Gbormittah (@selasigb) October 26, 2016
Can't watch Bake Off this evening?
Here's how to avoid spoilers until you can watch it:
- Do not look at the internet – at all.
- Do not turn on the radio.
- Do not turn on the television.
- Do not walk into a newsagent or supermarket.
- Do not hold a conversation with another human being.
Easy.
Mary Berry is truly a style icon
She may be the nation's favourite surrogate grandma but Mary Berry has repeatedly proved that when it comes to fashion, she's a fashion icon to all ages. Her choice of jackets, in particular, have had a big effect on high street sales. Want to own one? Here's where to find them.
My kingdom for Mary Berry's sold-out Marks & Spencer stork-print bomber jacket pic.twitter.com/5o2eQIn9RG
— Silvia Killingsworth (@silviakillings) November 26, 2015
Who's having a party?
Most of Britain apparently. Social media is beginning to fill up with pictures of people's party preparations for the big night. I don't suppose any of these could be sent to the Telegraph office? Anyone?
Ready for a #GBBOFinal party #candicetowin pic.twitter.com/ZysqB2CgU0
— What The Fox? 🎃 (@SophieKGF) October 26, 2016
It's #NationalPumpkinDay & Im baking @TanyaBurr's pumpkin cake pops for our #GBBOFinal party!🎃 (cooling outside lol) pic.twitter.com/7wXb82Gtxr
— Pumpkin Poppy J 🎃 (@heypoppyj) October 26, 2016
Making shortbread for a Bakeoff party tonight pic.twitter.com/51n8mlQ4fI
— Henry Hunt (@Huntho21) October 26, 2016
Chicken and leak pie, ginger bread and (failed) pavlova, get me on bake off #GBBOfinal
The best Bake Off moments... ever
It's just about clocking off time (for some of us anyway) but there's still three hours to wait until it all begins so relive the memories of the finest Bake Off moments from its seven series on the BBC: from Brendan oiling up his arms to Nadiya's moving speech last year.
What will happen in tonight's episode
As is befitting of a Bake Off final, all the bakes tonight are royal themed – so think meringue crowns and monarch-inspired sweet treats. And it will certainly not be easy. Mary Berry gets to choose the last Technical Challenge and she is a devil, giving the bakers a recipe with only one instruction. Then the Showstopper is one of the most complex ever seen, with the contestants having to pull together multiple components over a solid five hours. We wouldn't mind being among all the former bakers, family and friends in the garden, though – they get to eat it all afterwards.
They all had dinner together last night
Oh look.
Awsome dinner with my #bakers @katebarmby @cakesmyth @valstones @LeeBbakes @CJ_Brownie @RavSBansal @LouBaraDa @michaelgeo96 @Janebbakes pic.twitter.com/lO21vSZRbF
— Thomas Gilliford (@Tom_gilliford) October 25, 2016
Excellent company tonight, only managed to get a few photos though. #gbbo Honestly, friends for life!!!! pic.twitter.com/MPBgdfOaO9
— Rav (@RavSBansal) October 25, 2016
And then some of them met up for breakfast again this morning.
@valcake.walks @LeeBbakes @Tom_gilliford What's better than dinner with some of your favourite #gbbo bakers? Dinner and breakfast with them! pic.twitter.com/Dxk68zBvj7
— Kate Barmby (@katebarmby) October 26, 2016
Selasi, meanwhile, has also been spotted out and about in Spitalfields, London today wearing a blue suit (has this just become creepy?). As it goes, that is also where he works so it's back to the normal life for our eliminated bakers. Not even a day off to be had for the special event.
Will there be any reference to the Great Big Departure?
The series is shot months in advance but can be re-edited right up until the last moment so it is possible that there will be some sort of reference. However, as the programme is made by Love Productions, who sold the rights to Channel 4 in the first place, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll want to acknowledge this as the end of an era that we all do. They’ll want us to see this as a minor change and a channel move, nothing more. So expect business as usual in the tent.
Who's in the final
After the departure of Selasi last week, we were left with our three finalists. So let's meet them.
Andrew Smyth
Andrew is the youngest of the group at just 25 years old. He's an engineer and originally from County Down, Northern Ireland, but is now based in Derby. Read more about Andrew
Candice Brown
The 31-year-old PE teacher has consistently wowed with her creative bakes. She's originally from London and grew up in her family's pub, but now lives in Bedford. Read more about Candice
Jane Beedle
Lovely Jane is the eldest of the group. This mother of two is a garden designer by day and lives in Beckenham, Kent. Read more about Jane
Final as it happened
An emotional, era-ending episode. Here's your bake-by-bake recap...
The last Bake Off as we know it
So the lipstick-loving PE teacher from Bedfordshire becomes the last Bake Off winner on the BBC. Good bake, Ms Brown, and the end of an era. Stay with us for reaction and analysis...
Catch-up captions
Always enjoy this bit - on-screen captions fill us in on what the bakers have been up to since leaving the tent. Louise has changed her wedding venue from that collapsing gingerbread church. Dancing Val's planning a baking holiday to Ayia Napa. Tom's landed a new job as a designer (hopefully not of phallic loaves). Selasi's soon to be biking around Europe - if he can be bothered to get up off the tent floor. Jane's learning French. She and Candice are planning a bakers' road trip together. Aww.
Candice celebrates
A trotty celebration. Tears of emotion. "This means more to me than anyone will ever realise," says Candice. "I did it. I'm good. I'm good enough." She's engulfed by her family and friends.
Candice Brown is Bake-Off champion
The bookie’s favourite clinches it and deservedly so. Joint first in the signature round, second in the technical and top in the showstopper, Candice thoroughly deserves her victory. From her gingerbread pub to her marzipan peacock, she’s delivered consistently all series - winning three Star Baker awards along the way.
And the winner is…
Everyone gathers on Welford Park’s impeccably manicured lawns for the announcement of the winner, while the judges debate this "humdinger" of a showstopper. This is the big moment. And the winner of the 2016 Great British Bake Off is… drum roll… dramatic pause…
Decision time
Andrew thinks he’s out of it and mouths “It’s you two” at Jane. He’s probably right - Jane has ran Candice closest but has fallen short, I fear.
This is more like it
Candice’s sausage rolls, styled like “little piggies”, are delicious, as are her mini quiches. Lots of Mary Berry mentions of "lairs" (that's "layers" to you and I). The olives are overpowering the cheese flavour in her scones and her tarts are a tad overbaked. Paul leaves an interminable 20-second pause after tasting Candice's chocolate cake… Before declaring it “lovely”. Title’s in the bag, surely?
Candice could seal it
Like Jane, I don’t think Andrew’s done quite enough. Barring a showstopping disaster, the balance has tipped towards Candice.
Andrew’s showstopper gets rated
Andrew’s picnic is also “beautifully displayed” but the baking is patchy: raw pastry in his sausage rolls, the smoked cheese flavour isn’t coming through in his scores, his quiche pastry is overworked and his strawberry tarts have the dreaded soggy bottom. His chocolate cake, made to his grandmother’s recipe, is the star piece. Well played, grandma. Poor Andrew looks like he might cry.
Judgement for Jane
It’s a two-person job lugging these epic showstoppers up to the gingham altar. First up, it’s Jane. “It looks right regal,” says Mary approvingly of her colourful hamper selection - until pesky Paul points out raw pastry in her sausage rolls. The butternut squash flavour isn’t coming through in Jane’s scones, but her salmon mini-quiches and summer berry tarts are much better. The chocolate cake is also a triumph but “shame about the collar”. I fear she hasn’t done quite enough to win.
Time’s up
Five hours and 49 bakes later, the finalists have finished. They flop wearily into a relieved group hug. Phew. It was exhausting just watching them. Who needs to refuel with cake?
Jane’s gateau gamble backfires
We feared that trying a pesky collar again was an accident waiting to happen. So it has proved. Her over-chilled white chocolate wrap won’t peel off the paperand Jane has to hastily improvise by throwing glitter at her cake instead. We’ve all been there. But this is the final - is that a fatal error?
Jane’s in a flap
As the pressure mounts and clock counts down, Andrew says “screw the measurements” (naughty Mr Precision). Meanwhile, Jane is talking to herself and getting in a right old ruddy-faced tizz.
Jane gets hot under the collar
She tried to add a floral collar to her showstopper in Botanicals Week and it went wrong, leading which led Paul Hollywood to compare the finished cake to “colourful mashed potato”. Now Jane is attempting it again on her chocolate celebration cake. Risky.
Bakers’ reunion outside the tent
As is traditional, the eliminated bakers return for the end-of-series summer fête, when the winner gets crowned. We get reacquainted with Selasi, Kate, Benjamina, Rav and co, which is rather lovely - like welcoming old friends.
At home with Jane
Down in Kent, the garden designer has an enviable kitchen and articulate children. In the family album snaps shown on-screen, it seems she also had huge brunette curls and a possible sideline as an Anita Dobson lookalike.
At home with Andrew
Andrew is also all about family, theming his bakes around his clan’s favourites and gran's recipe. His proud parents are filmed sitting on their vast lawn, which seems to take up most of Northern Ireland. His mother reveals that Andrew missed his own graduation ceremony because he was baking. A bachelor of dough science.
At home with Candice
The London-born bookies’ favourite is theming her showstopper “For Pearly Kings & Queens”. She’s a family girl, so we get to meet her proud, salt-of-the-earth Cockney parents, and how her grandmother Margaret inspired her to bake from the tender age of four. Aww. No sign of her pug Dennis, though, sadly.
Andrew Excels
Leaving nothing to chance, the engineering nerd has a colour-coded spreadsheet with minute-by-minute timings. Attaboy.
Biggest showstopper ever
It’s a whopper - the most bakes ever requested. The finalists have five hours to whip up a chocolate celebration cake, 12 sausage rolls, 12 mini quiches, 12 savoury scones and 12 fruit and custard tarts. A total of 49 items. With one oven. And probably a nervous breakdown.
Still all to bake for
It’s pretty evenly poised going into the showstopper round. The Bake-Off 2016 title is still up for grabs. You could cut the tension with a breadknife.
Andrew’s back in it
In a shock result, Jane comes third - her sponge is too big with gluey jam. Tut tut. Candice is second - her buttercream is grainy and her jam is runny but it tastes a little better than Jane’s. Andrew wins and breathes a big sigh of relief.
Wot no gingham altar?
Breaking the habit of a lifetime, Mel Giedroyc tells the bakers to bing their completed Victorian sandwiches up to the “gingham table”. This is the sort of needless tinkering with a winning formula that we can probably expect when the show moves to Channel 4.
Playing to Jane’s strengths
Jane is a classic home baker with 30 years' more experience than the other two. Surely she should win this?
Andrew weighs his eggs
I know he’s Mr Precision but seriously, who does that?
Technical with a twist
Mary Berry sets the technical challenge and oh my, it’s a goodie. A classic Victorian sandwich. Simple, you might think. Except the minimal instructions merely say: “Make two Victorian sandwiches in 20cm tins. Fill with raspberry jam and buttercream.” No method. No measurements. The bakers have just memory and instinct to go on. A fiendish one for the final, and last year's semi-finalist Tamal Ray agrees.
This is a GREAT idea for a technical! Although thy could have been extra cruel and taken away the scales. #GBBOFinal
— Tamal Ray (@DrRayBakes) October 26, 2016
Black sheep of the family
A quick cutaway to Berkshire’s gambolling black sheep. Let’s face it, they’re no match for THAT squirrel.
Andrew falls behind after first round
Candice quips that Paul’s “giving out handshakes willy-nilly”. Poor Andrew says he needs to win the technical round to stay in contention. No pressure.
Hollywood handshakes for Candice and Jane
Candice’s signature looks beautifully finished , tons of pipework and tastes lovely, earning her the coveted handshake from Paul Hollywood. Jane’s “pavlova trifle” also impresses the exacting judge and he gives her a double handshake - the first time he’s done a “Roman clasp” in Bake Off history. High praise indeed.
Andrew’s mer-wrong
Meringue judgement time. Andrew’s Crunch Caramel & Cassis Meringue Crown lacks definition due his runny meringue and it’s sickly sweet. Oops.
Purple reign
Andrew presents his meringue crown on a purple model of a head. Perhaps a subtle tribute to His Royal Purpleness, singer Prince, who sadly died six months ago.
Paul Hollywood on the prowl
The master baker is pacing around the tent like a silvery panther, peering at bakes and playing mind games.
Candice does some baby talk
Which is an ickle wickle bit annoyingsies. Infantilisingypoos. Meanwhile, Jane's making a "blueberry dam".
Jane’s bottom is cracking
I have nothing more to add.
Andrew turns over a new leaf
He's made his praline on the wrong side of the greaseproof paper. He uses the term "facepalm", like the millennial he is
"Beaten until stiff"
Is that a single entendre? Everyone's piping meringue. It's oddly tense to watch.
Pavlovas all round
All three finalists have plumped for pavlova-style creations. Jane’s is red, white and blue, with fresh British fruit. Andrew is recreating the jubilee crown in gold-sprayed muscovado meringue. Candice, typically, is going the extra mile with two different types of meringues and an extra tier.
Camaraderie in the tent
Everyone’s wishing each other good luck. You don’t get that on ITV2’s Love Island.
First innuendo of the evening
As the signature challenge is set - a filled meringue crown with three layers - Sue says that the famous foursome have “already have a a sponge sceptre and several jellied orbs”.
Marquee stylewatch
Fairly low-key style choices for this final - not a directional blazer floral bomber jacket in sight. Sue’s in a blue blazer, Mel’s gone grey, Mary Berry’s in the pink. Paul Hollywood is looking mean in a black shirt. As for the finalists: Jane’s in a floral smock, Andrew’s in a blue shirt and chino-style short (textbook Brit tourist aboard) and Candice has opted for a lacy “LBD” with wedge sandals.
Runners and riders
A brief montage to reacquaint us with the bakers. Jane is a “home style baker” who got off to a flying start by being crowned Star Baker in week one. Andrew is “Mr Precision”, meticulous in his methods and reigning Star Baker. Candice goes the extra mile but sometimes needs to rain in her ambition and get the baking basics right.
And we’re off!
“In the beginning, there were 12,” narrates Sue Perkins. “Now there are three.” Which sounds slightly like nine bakers have been slayed. Probably by Mary Berry for using shop-bought fondant.
Candice is bookies’ favourite
Going into tonight’s final, Candice is the bookmakers’ odds-on favourite - partly because she’s won three Star Baker titles to Andrew’s two and Jane’s one. Who are you rooting for? Are you #TeamJane, #TeamCandice or #Team Andrew? A Beedle-maniac, a Brown-ista or a Smyth-sonian? Five minutes until we go over to the marquee…
It’s the end of an floury era
Fifteen minutes the last ever Bake Off on the BBC. The last to star Mary Berry, Mel and Sue. It’s going to be emotional *dabs eyes with teatowel*.
This is it, cake-lovers and dough devotees
The big one. Not just the final of The Great British Bake Off but the last ever episode to be broadcast on the BBC. Who will rise to the occasion like a perfect scone and be crowned the last champion on the Beeb?
Good evening and welcome to our Bake Off liveblog for the grand final. It's showtime at 8pm on BBC One, when our three surviving bakers - pouting PE teacher Candice Brown, model of cakey consistency Jane Beedle and ginger engineering ninja Andrew Smyth - will enter the famous marquee to do bready battle for the last time.
Last week’s Patisserie-themed semi-final saw Andrew named Star Baker and cult hero Selasi Gbormittah sadly sent home.
Tonight, it’s a royal-themed final. But it's not entirely over: there will be an extra follow up episode on BBC One tomorrow at 8pm. Class of 2015 will revisit the contestants of last year and see how they've been getting on since. And, of course, An Extra Slice is on Friday at 8.30pm.
We'll be liveblogging all evening, providing build-up, rolling coverage, recaps and analysis, so watch along with us. Please join in too - you can email me on michael.hogan@ telegraph.co.uk or tweet me on @michaelhogan. I'll keep an eye on both and report the highlights here. On your marks. Get set. And for the last time…. baaaaake!
It's all happening at Selasi's house
Is it too late to hop in a taxi round to the semi-finalist's pad?
Leaning tower? 45-50 guests means no cooking 🙈! #Pizza and #Booze #GBBOfinal #Partay pic.twitter.com/gnHWD6uzrz
— Selasi Gbormittah (@selasigb) October 26, 2016
On our way to @selasigb and his #GBBO party - best way to watch! @RavSBansal @LouBaraDa @katebarmby @michaelgeo96 @kate_gilliford pic.twitter.com/wsxF3FFybf
— Thomas Gilliford (@Tom_gilliford) October 26, 2016
Selasi has pulled out all the party stops
The laidback Ghanaian is a banker, so a few bottles of fizz should barely put a dent in his wallet. But it seems there will also be confetti cannons in Hammersmith this evening. This man certainly knows how to throw a party.
Tip of the iceberg!ready!Special guests arriving soon in a convoy of cars 😉. Celebrations will be AWESOME #GBBOfinal! Place to be tonight😉 pic.twitter.com/7E11NP2Mk7
— Selasi Gbormittah (@selasigb) October 26, 2016
Can't watch Bake Off this evening?
Here's how to avoid spoilers until you can watch it:
- Do not look at the internet – at all.
- Do not turn on the radio.
- Do not turn on the television.
- Do not walk into a newsagent or supermarket.
- Do not hold a conversation with another human being.
Easy.
Mary Berry is truly a style icon
She may be the nation's favourite surrogate grandma but Mary Berry has repeatedly proved that when it comes to fashion, she's a fashion icon to all ages. Her choice of jackets, in particular, have had a big effect on high street sales. Want to own one? Here's where to find them.
My kingdom for Mary Berry's sold-out Marks & Spencer stork-print bomber jacket pic.twitter.com/5o2eQIn9RG
— Silvia Killingsworth (@silviakillings) November 26, 2015
Who's having a party?
Most of Britain apparently. Social media is beginning to fill up with pictures of people's party preparations for the big night. I don't suppose any of these could be sent to the Telegraph office? Anyone?
Ready for a #GBBOFinal party #candicetowin pic.twitter.com/ZysqB2CgU0
— What The Fox? 🎃 (@SophieKGF) October 26, 2016
It's #NationalPumpkinDay & Im baking @TanyaBurr's pumpkin cake pops for our #GBBOFinal party!🎃 (cooling outside lol) pic.twitter.com/7wXb82Gtxr
— Pumpkin Poppy J 🎃 (@heypoppyj) October 26, 2016
Making shortbread for a Bakeoff party tonight pic.twitter.com/51n8mlQ4fI
— Henry Hunt (@Huntho21) October 26, 2016
Chicken and leak pie, ginger bread and (failed) pavlova, get me on bake off #GBBOfinal
The best Bake Off moments... ever
It's just about clocking off time (for some of us anyway) but there's still three hours to wait until it all begins so relive the memories of the finest Bake Off moments from its seven series on the BBC: from Brendan oiling up his arms to Nadiya's moving speech last year.
What will happen in tonight's episode
As is befitting of a Bake Off final, all the bakes tonight are royal themed – so think meringue crowns and monarch-inspired sweet treats. And it will certainly not be easy. Mary Berry gets to choose the last Technical Challenge and she is a devil, giving the bakers a recipe with only one instruction. Then the Showstopper is one of the most complex ever seen, with the contestants having to pull together multiple components over a solid five hours. We wouldn't mind being among all the former bakers, family and friends in the garden, though – they get to eat it all afterwards.
They all had dinner together last night
Oh look.
Awsome dinner with my #bakers @katebarmby @cakesmyth @valstones @LeeBbakes @CJ_Brownie @RavSBansal @LouBaraDa @michaelgeo96 @Janebbakes pic.twitter.com/lO21vSZRbF
— Thomas Gilliford (@Tom_gilliford) October 25, 2016
Excellent company tonight, only managed to get a few photos though. #gbbo Honestly, friends for life!!!! pic.twitter.com/MPBgdfOaO9
— Rav (@RavSBansal) October 25, 2016
And then some of them met up for breakfast again this morning.
@valcake.walks @LeeBbakes @Tom_gilliford What's better than dinner with some of your favourite #gbbo bakers? Dinner and breakfast with them! pic.twitter.com/Dxk68zBvj7
— Kate Barmby (@katebarmby) October 26, 2016
Selasi, meanwhile, has also been spotted out and about in Spitalfields, London today wearing a blue suit (has this just become creepy?). As it goes, that is also where he works so it's back to the normal life for our eliminated bakers. Not even a day off to be had for the special event.
Will there be any reference to the Great Big Departure?
The series is shot months in advance but can be re-edited right up until the last moment so it is possible that there will be some sort of reference. However, as the programme is made by Love Productions, who sold the rights to Channel 4 in the first place, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll want to acknowledge this as the end of an era that we all do. They’ll want us to see this as a minor change and a channel move, nothing more. So expect business as usual in the tent.
Who's in the final
After the departure of Selasi last week, we were left with our three finalists. So let's meet them.
Andrew Smyth
Andrew is the youngest of the group at just 25 years old. He's an engineer and originally from County Down, Northern Ireland, but is now based in Derby. Read more about Andrew
Candice Brown
The 31-year-old PE teacher has consistently wowed with her creative bakes. She's originally from London and grew up in her family's pub, but now lives in Bedford. Read more about Candice
Jane Beedle
Lovely Jane is the eldest of the group. This mother of two is a garden designer by day and lives in Beckenham, Kent. Read more about Jane
