The Great British Bake Off - The Final

7 December 2020

Twelve bakers entered the Bake Off bubble at the start of the competition, but only one could be crowned the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2020, and tonight Peter, 20 from Edinburgh celebrated his win in an extraordinary Bake Off series that has made TV history.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judged 12 Bakers with 30 Challenges over 10 episodes for the eleventh series of The Great British Bake Off 2020.  This series the Bakers have baked everything from Battenburgs to Biscuits and Rainbow Bagels to Brownies.  They faced Caged Tarts in Pastry Week, Steamed Buns in Japanese Week and went into 80s week making Quiches and Ice Cream Cake in a very hot tent.  They didn’t wobble on Jelly Desserts and brought creative twists to their Horn of Plenty on Patisserie Week.  None of it was easy, and they all coped magnificently.

In the final episode, the three remaining Bakers had to battle it out in the iconic white tent for their last ever challenges of 2020 and for Dave, Laura and Peter the stakes couldn’t have been higher as Paul and Prue set three challenges that would test every aspect of their baking prowess.  In a classic signature they had to combine set custard and puff pastry for a perfect Custard Slice.   Then a technical Walnut Whirl celebrating a classic flavour combination of chocolate and nuts.   And finally, in the Showstopper, the bakers had to show the judges exactly why they deserved to be crowned the winner, as they constructed magnificent dessert towers. 

All 3 Finalists put their all into it and produced amazing baking creations.  The judges said it was the closest Final they have ever had to judge and the hardest decision to make, but it was to be Peter’s year.  He is our youngest ever Bake Off winner and at 20 took the trophy home to Edinburgh.    Here The Great British Bake Off Winner 2020, Peter talks about his win:  ‘I can’t quite believe that I am here, I can’t quite believe that I made it onto the show, and I can’t quite believe that the show happened.  This is going to be a really huge chapter in my life, and what a way for it to end.’

Peter added: ‘I wanted this a lot, when I was 12 I was watching repeats of Bake Off back to back, and it got me into baking big time. I am a Bake Off nerd, and I think 12 year old Peter would be in awe, and just the most excited giddy kid.    I am that excited giddy kid right now.

‘Honestly it was never in my mind that I thought I could win this, but I was pleased with my first challenge of a Cranachan Custard Slice – Prue said it was lovely flaky pastry with good custard and that I had ticked every box!   Walnut Whirl in the Technical - I do like a Walnut Whirl! And Paul said my ganache was good.   The final Showstopper was a tricky and interesting challenge.  I made a Bonker’s Bake Off Bubble Cake with a Victoria sandwich sponge with strawberry cream; a middle layer of blackberry and lemon choux buns, and mini Battenburg biscuits on the top layer. Prue liked my flavours, and Paul said it was silky smooth inside.

‘Dave, Laura and I were so happy to be in the Final together, we were so close and really supported each other.  This year particularly all the bakers helped support each other through the journey, from day one.  It’s a shame we can’t all win.

‘Matt and Noel were great to be with in the tent, it was always fun, they were always doing random silly things that would never cross my mind.  They kept it very light and would also give really good reassurance in a controlled and kind way, when they knew you wanted a bit of warmth and support, along with the mad stuff.

‘When Noel called me the baby face assassin and also said Paul knows that the Apprentice takes over from the Master - it was quite a funny nickname to be given but I wouldn’t expect anything less wacky from Noel.  And I promise you I didn’t kill the Master at the end of the series.

‘The tent felt so bare, as Bakers we were so far away from each other.  I was so focused on what I was doing at the Final, I had no idea what the other two were doing.  It was so different from week 1 when there were 12 of us.  It felt like the Marie Celeste that day.

“I think it was lovely that all 3 Finalists were Star Bakers throughout the series and whenever a Baker won, we were all able to share in their success within the group.

‘The pressure is definitely on more for the final.  In week 8 I had a big wobble in jelly week, and wasn’t sure of myself.  Most of the weeks I was just having fun, but in the final it really felt a competition rather than just baking in a tent with your pals.

‘After winning the trophy I had to smuggle it on the plane back to Edinburgh.  I was a bit stressed when we went through the scanners.  And then it stayed on my family worktop in the kitchen hidden in a box.  I can’t wait to crack it out of the box and give it as much use as I possibly can.

‘Apart from baking, badminton is a big part of my life.  I love sport in general, physical activity and the constant personal development you can get from it.  I have so many great friends from badminton and I love playing with them.

‘I am studying at Edinburgh University, and it’s my third year in a four year degree, it’s been an interesting year generally.  It is an odd start for any student, and then add on Bake Off and it’s even more bizarre.  I have started to be recognized a little bit more, but everyone has been such good fun and supportive, it’s been a really enjoyable experience.

‘I hope I have made Scotland proud being the first Scottish winner.  I enjoyed using Scottish flavours and themes when I could throughout the competition.

‘I watched the final with my flatmates, I made something similar to the choux buns in the Showstopper, so it did have an element of the bake in it!  For lockdown reasons, it couldn’t exactly be a party but it was great to celebrate with my flatmates and have a few drinks.

‘Filming in the bubble was certainly a unique experience inside and outside the tent.  It was a very intense environment to be in but it was hugely fun whilst filming and also in our down time.  You saw Paul on his moped, the crew doing Yoga or playing rounders or tennis.  It was like a grown ups holiday camp for seven weeks.  

‘Bake Off has given me a whole new set of friends that share an obsessive love of baking.  I didn’t quite expect to have made as strong connections as I have, and I know that we will all keep in touch.  Dave and Laura were so supportive at the Final, we had lunch together and dinner together, as we had normally done.  It was so good to have that comfort and support.

‘Bake Off has definitely broadened my baking – it has opened me up to new styles of baking.  I was quite adventurous before, but now I am less nervous of stepping out of my baking comfort zone.  I tried to take on board the Judges comments and learn about baking, be analytical about it and I feel I have learned about baking on a deeper level.  The tent isn’t just about baking good bakes, it’s about creating the perfect version of anything you bake.

‘Paul and Prue came across exactly as you imagine them to be.    I wanted to impress them both the same, and I wanted them to enjoy what I had made and to make them happy.  When they were disappointed you felt it, particularly if you felt you had let Prue down.  They both wanted us to do so well, and were really encouraging us to make the best bake we could.

‘I would like to say thank you my family, my flatmates the other Bakers and everyone in the production team and the hotel staff.  I loved being there as it was a place full of positive energy, and fun.  The people made it such a wonderful place to be.

‘I have a very appreciative group of flatmates, me and one other flatmate make fresh bread every other day.  Sometimes we share meals, and there are some good cooks in the house, so it’s a good place to live.  I want to finish my degree and I will continue to bake.  That’s another two years, my studies are top priority.

‘Worst moments in the tent were when others had issues with their bakes or bad feedback from the judges. We felt like a team and it was hard whenever anyone got a bad result. The best moments were when you could see how much the judges loved our baking, you can’t help but smile when the judges love something they’re trying!

 ‘If you enjoy baking and making friends, it’s worth applying no matter what your experience.  The application process is interesting and challenging, and getting on the show is extraordinarily fun.   You develop as a baker from the experience, so it’s worth giving it a crack.’

Paul said at the end:  ‘Peter should be exceptionally proud.  He is the youngest winner we have ever had and the first Scottish winner.  Prue added:   ‘Do you know I am terribly proud of Peter and I feel as if he is my grandson.  He is such a nice guy and he is so eager to learn, you can’t not like him.'

Runners up Dave and Laura congratulated him.  Dave said ‘I gave Peter a good run for his money, but he really deserves it.  I am not at all disappointed, if someone had told me at the beginning that I would be a runner up, I would take that, all day long.’

 Laura added  ‘I am overjoyed but it’s bittersweet that it’s all over.  I am looking forward to going home, and I am really made up that I got some flowers, to be honest!  You genuinely couldn’t ask for a better winner, he really does deserve it.’

Peter ends saying ‘I think GBBO has changed my life. It is the most intense and challenging experience of my life so I think I have learned a lot and have grown up whilst being in the bake off bubble.   I’m looking forward to baking a few things at a relaxed pace for friends and family who won’t be scrutinising my bakes quite as closely as the judges! I don’t know what will come out of this but I hope there are a few fun opportunities that I can take up!’

Peter will join Jo Brand on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Friday 27 November at 8.00 pm on Channel 4. 

Peter, 20, Edinburgh

Accounting & Finance Student

With his parents and brother, Edinburgh-born Peter grew up feasting on his mum’s home cooking. But it was Bake Off that inspired him to start baking for himself – he has watched every series since the first and has been baking seriously since he was only 12 years old. He loves to honour his homeland in his cooking, using Scottish ingredients – including berries, whisky, oats and honey – whenever he can. When he’s not baking, he is either upholding the family’s love of numbers by studying Accounting and Finance at university, or demonstrating his competitive streak on the badminton court – he has been playing badminton for a decade and has represented his county in the sport since 2012.

Pictures: Channel 4 – Duncan Webb: dwebb@channel4.co.uk

Issued by Shelagh@shelaghpymm.co.uk and amanda@consolepr.co.uk

 

A Love Production for Channel 4