Now is not the time for a soggy bottom. After three months of kneading, mixing and icing, the Great British Bake Off final has arrived.
Judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood must decide if it’s builder Richard, retired GP practice manager Nancy or graphic designer Luis who rises to the top. First they have to make a Viennoiserie. Then there’s a task with ingredients but no instructions. And finally they have to make a Pièce Montée - a towering cake centrepiece.
Today the finalists say what the show means to them...
Luis Troyano, 43
What was your favourite challenge?
The eclairs, probably. It gave you the opportunity to do something creative. Eclairs are usually quite traditional, full of cream and chocolate on top. So I wanted to do something completely different and give it an American flavour. I love US cakes and how they are so different. I like their style.
What was the worst challenge?
Oh God, it was the self-saucing puddings. I hated it. I had heard of them but it is not something I had ever made before or ever had any inclination to make. I was totally out of my comfort zone. I knew the recipe wasn’t great but I didn’t know where else to go. I was really uncomfortable with that one.
Did you ever see Mary lose her temper or get annoyed about anything?
If Mary said something and didn’t realise it might have different connotations she would get cross with herself.
What is the best piece of advice you were given?
The producers said you must strive to be creative but also do something that is achievable within the time. They advised doing something different but not impossible – as the clock will always be ticking.
Tell us a secret about a finalist?
Richard has a huge appetite. He eats like a horse but doesn’t show it. That’s really annoying. You’d be shocked how much he can put away and stay lean.
Did you put on any weight during filming?
Through the whole process yes. I am trying my best to get it off. You can easily put on weight because you are always testing, constantly baking.
Did anything ever go wrong?
Loads. The biggest thing that goes wrong in the tent is that the time goes by too quickly. You have to constantly readjust to the time that is left. It just flies by.
What is the strangest place you’ve been recognised since you’ve been on the show?
I’ve been spotted a lot but I don’t really go anywhere strange! It’s been lovely and positive and they all want to talk about baking.
Why do you deserve to win? Who would you like to thank?
Every time you walk into the tent it’s different. You are given a once-in-a-lifetime chance that is totally fantastic. Hand on heart I would like to thank everyone involved in the whole process of making Bake Off. So everyone that contributes to that gets my thanks for such an amazing experience. And Louise, my wife, for her never-ending patience and not having me around for all the time I was on Bake Off. She is a great support and totally amazing. I am so lucky.
Paul’s verdict:
He is the creative one , the great innovator. His flavour combinations are frankly, divine. He has been fairly consistent, but dropped on some of his ideas. Artistically he is one of the top ever.
Richard Burr, 38
What was your favourite challenge?
The 3D biscuit – so many people went mad for it. I make them for my kids all the time. Last year me and my wife, made seven or eight identical biscuit houses for adults to decorate and we were the judges.
What was the worst challenge?
The worst was obviously pears in pastry, I will never do that again in my life.
I really struggled with that one. The pastry just kept sliding off. I knew what it was supposed to look like in my head but 10 minutes before the end I knew that was never going to happen.
Did you ever see Mary lose her temper or get annoyed about anything?
Even when Mel & Sue are winding her up, she takes it all in the best spirit, and she always has a twinkle in her eye.
What is the best piece of advice you were given?
It was an often repeated piece of advice from lots of people – just remain calm and keep a level head. And that always came from my wife Sarah. We quite often bake together so she always gives good advice and we understand exactly what you need to do. Making a birthday cake for one of the kids at 3am you need to have a good understanding of each other!
Tell us a secret about a finalist?
Luis would never tell the other bakers what he was going to make each week. He never cracked throughout the whole show. I would jabber away telling everyone!
Did you put on any weight during filming?
I did manage to put on a stone so I am running with the dog at the moment to lose it. My building job is very active and being back on site means it is dropping off.
Did anything ever go wrong?
Almost every single week there would be something that would go wrong but the trick was how you put them right.
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What is the strangest place you’ve been recognised since you’ve been on the show?
Always in builders’ merchants. You don’t expect builders to be watching the show. They would always say, ‘I don’t watch the show but my wife does’. But then they would know too much about it.
Why do you deserve to win? Who would you like to thank?
I got to the final by constant graft. The other bakers had instinct and experience and they were so good throughout the whole series and I learned so much from them. I would love to thank my wife Sarah for being so patient and my daughters for putting up with having to eat so many doughnuts!
Paul Hollywood’s verdict:
He is the precision baker, a typical builder with his pencil behind the ear. When he nails it he is bang-on. Going into the final he is very strong.
Nancy Birtwhistle, 60
What was your favourite challenge?
The Showstopper in Week One with my Jaffa Orange Cakes. That was the only time I got Star Baker.
I was at my most nervous and I was so pleased.
What was the worst challenge?
I had a few! I over-proved the Savarin and it sank. The flavour was good and Mary had a second slice which I got a bit of comfort from. The entremets in the semi-final – my time management flew out the window and there was no time for decoration. Entremets are all about looking good and mine didn’t.
Did you ever see Mary lose her temper or get annoyed about anything?
Not once. She reassured me in the semi-final when I couldn’t find my entremet moulds. I was getting in a right tizzy but she calmed me down and said it would all be fine. She was right and we found them. One cold day in the tent she offered to lend me a jumper.
What is the best piece of advice you were given?
The director on Week Seven. There were a few nerves walking into the tent and he said just enjoy yourselves because it will be finished soon.
Tell us a secret about a finalist?
Luis is a brilliant ukulele player. At a party he sang and played and got all the bakers to join in. He’s a really good singer.
Did you put on any weight during filming?
I lost weight because I was running around. I baked every day for 10 weeks then I had to cook a meal at night so I lost my appetite a bit.
Did anything ever go wrong?
Quite a few things. The dark chocolate glaze on my entremets wasn’t cool enough even though I had planned it meticulously. When you’re in the tent it’s different.
What is the strangest place you’ve been recognised since you’ve been on the show?
Dog-walking in the middle of nowhere a car stopped – I thought for directions, but he told me I was Nancy off Bake Off. I did know that!
Why do you deserve to win? Who would you like to thank?
I don’t deserve to win any more than the other two. I know it will be tense and loaded with pressure. It have to thank my husband Tim. We used to get the challenges by email and he would be great to bounce ideas off and really help me. He has endless patience and was great at inventing gadgets to help me. He’s been incredibly supportive.
Paul’s verdict:
One of the most consistent people we have ever had. She has never been in the danger zone like the others. The final was built for her.
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