Great British Bake Off episode ten: Candice Brown earns the crown
The finalists: Candice, Jane and Andrew [Photo: BBC]
It’s the Bake Off final and a particularly special one at that as it’s the last episode before the show moves over to Channel Four sans the core cast. It’s been emosh. Who knows what the future holds? But enough about the future, let’s discuss the very recent past.
In the signature bake our three finalists were challenged to make a filled three layered meringue crown. “How they achieve that is up to them,” said Mezza.
A nail bitingly intense coronation. [Photo: BBC]
Well, they all went for a pavlova style. Jane, the nations beloved family baker kept things simple with her red white and blue meringue crown. Andrew engineered a crunchy cassis queen’s jubilee crown; watching him adorn that polystyrene head with it was an intense moment. Candice, true to form, went to town with her mango and strawberry crown using two different meringues topped with a tiny Queen Victoria inspired meringue crown .
Jane working on her impressive pavlova. [Photo BBC]
Mary thought Jane’s looked like a “first rate meringue” and Paul, after being bowled over by “three layers of heaven” awarded her the Hollywood Handshake. Yet again Candice proved herself more than capable of achieving impressive, complicated and intricate results, wowing the judges with her colourful multi-flavoured spectacle also bagging herself a Hollywood Handshake. Andrew produced a good meringue but the filling lacked flavour and sharpness.
The bakers present their Victoria sandwiches for the judges. [Photo BBC]
The Technical Challenge was a Victoria sandwich. Easy right? So easy Mary thought she’d leave out any instructions at all. Andrew, demoralised after being excluded from the Hollywood Handshake club got hella engineery on that sandwich - he even weighed the eggs. Our youngest remaining contestant reaped the rewards of his attention to detail nabbing himself first place on account of his smooth buttercream, good jam, and even textured sponge. It was a tough call between Jane and Candice but Candice came in second only because her sponge was “a bit” better than Jane’s.
Ah, we’ll miss the japes of Mel & Sue. [Photo BBC]
With the field wide open our bakers faced their final Showstopper Challenge ever, “a picnic fit for her majesty” with FOURTY NINE items on the menu: one chocolate celebration cake, 12 puff pastry sausage rolls, 12 mini quiches, 12 savoury scones and 12 fruit and custard tarts, all in five hours.
Shout out to Andrew, “the precision baker”, who created a spreadsheet with every hour of the allotted time broken down into five minute blocks. Undeterred by her Botanical week lace collar mishap Jane opted to decorate her four tier chocolate cake with a white chocolate lace collar. Sadly it didn’t stick, “If in doubt throw glitter on it!” she chirruped as her eyes grew big and glassy.
Jane ahead of her second lace collar mishap. [Photo BBC]
Judging time saw Jane present a beautiful spread. “I’m sure the queen would love this colourful selection” said Mary. Despite the glittery mishap they thought her cake tasted great and her tarts and quiches were very good. Unfortunately her raw sausage roll pastry let her down.
Series seven finalist Jane. [Photo BBC]
Sadly Andrew’s beautiful, meticulously displayed picnic looked better than it tasted. He too had underdone his sausage roll pastry, his scones lacked flavour and his tarts had…you guessed it…a soggy bottom.
Series seven finalist, Andrew. [Photo BBC]
Thankfully he didn’t let his gran down - her chocolate cake recipe was a hit.
Relief after the bakers complete their final Showstopper challenge. [Photo BBC]
But it was Candice’s “exciting hamper” complete with “little piggy” sausage rolls sporting peppercorn eyes and crackling tails that really wowed the judges.
Candice is announced winner. Her mum (background right) is the best! [Photo BBC]
Her persistent desire to go the extra mile in flavour and detail despite repeated raised eyebrows and reservations from the judges saw her earn series seven victory.
GBBO series seven winner, Candice. [Photo BBC]
Congratulations Candice! And a hearty pat on the back to Jane and Andrew.
Overjoyed, Candice shares a tender moment with her boyfriend. [Photo BBC]
So, it’s with a tear in our eye we congratulate all 12 bakers and wish them well.
For all the beautiful bakes, cheeky innuendos and for pulling it all off in such style – thank you, Candice. #GBBO #GBBOFinal 💄 pic.twitter.com/xLabHMuutW
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) October 26, 2016
Oh, and word on the grapevine: Candice and Jane are planning a baking road trip. Spin off series, perhaps?
