The Great British Bake Off: who will triumph in the final?
Tonight marks the hotly anticipated final of the third series of The Great British Bake Off. Four years ago, you couldn't have predicted that a reality show that revolves around who can fry the perfect doughnuts and make the Colosseum out of gingerbread could be so successful.
In a time when reality TV programmes such as TOWIE or Big Brother have tried to grab at viewers by competing to be the most outrageous or shocking, The Great British Bake Off has almost revelled in its normal-ness, providing great family telly with likeable contestants, intelligent judges in the form of Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood and, not to mention, simply gorgeous food.
The show has become a staple of Tuesday-night viewing for the whole nation, with its technically impressive cakes, pies, and roulades providing a feast for all the senses. Over the gruelling weeks of tough challenges, the wannabe bakers have been whittled down to the final three. So when it comes down to it tonight, who will reign supreme as the winner of The Great British Bake Off?
On the face of it, you'd have to think that Brendan Lynch, the 63-year-old Irish baker, can edge it. He's been consistently brilliant, has rarely put a foot wrong, and he's really set the bar in terms of quality. His high standards have seen him crowned Star Baker twice, and his calm, collected baking style means he's glided unruffled through most of the tasks. Perhaps Brendan's only downside is his frequent excursions into the more '70s retro style of baking, something judge Paul Hollywood has criticised him for. But despite this, Brendan still seems like the safe bet.
However, the baker who'll offer the most competition to Brendan is James Morton, the young Scottish medical student, whose spectacles and knitted tank tops have made him adored by housewives all over the country. But you needn't peg him as just a pretty face - James has been Star Baker three times, and with his maverick and unconventional baking style, he is the yin to Brendan's calm yang. His experimenting has had mixed results - leading to brilliance as often as disaster. If James can hold back on the syrup syringes and dry ice, it may be James to win.
It would, though, be unfair to completely count the third finalist out of the equation. John Whaite, the Wigan baker, has suffered some trials throughout the competition. In week six, he nearly cut off his fingers whilst trying to make a strudel, and has made several errors due to his crippling nerves. However, he was Star Baker once, and has shown in recent weeks that he's building up his confidence. When he's on form, he can definitely bake brilliant food, as was seen with his incredible ginger biscuit Colosseum. If John can hold it all together, he's a strong contender.
But who do you think will be crowned victorious in The Great British Bake Off final? Let us know in the comments box below.
Emily Bancroft
Tagged in TV Baking Food & Drink