THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF SERIES 15 – THE FINAL!

27 November 2024

Twelve bakers entered the Bake Off tent at the start of the competition, but only one could be crowned the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2024, and tonight Noel announced that Georgie,  34 from Carmarthenshire was the winner of The Great British Bake Off Series 15.  She celebrated her win in an amazing tense final episode with fellow finalists Christiaan and Dylan.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judged 12 Bakers with 30 Challenges over 10 episodes for the 15th series of The Great British Bake Off.   

This series the Bakers have baked their way through Cake Week, Biscuit Week, Bread Week, Caramel Week, Pastry week, Autumn week, Dessert week, back to the 70s week, Patisserie week, and ending on the Final.

After nine amazing weeks it was just 3 bakers left as finalists Christiaan, Dylan and Georgie faced their biggest challenges, and the pressure was at an all-time high.  The stakes couldn’t have been higher as the three remaining bakers battled it out in the iconic white tent for their last ever challenges of 2024 which would test every aspect of their baking prowess.  None of it was easy, but they all coped magnificently.  The three Finalists put their all into this series and produced amazing baking creations. 

For the signature, the bakers had to wow the judges with their flavours and techniques by creating delicate scones. In their last technical challenge, Prue set the bar high, asking for a spread fit for a quintessential afternoon tea.  And finally, for the showstopper, the three Baker finalists had to create a breathtaking, hanging tiered celebration cake suitable as the centerpiece for a summer garden party.

But 2024 was to be Georgie’s year, and she triumphantly took the trophy home.  On hearing her win, Georgie said   ‘This is mad! I have won it, I can’t believe it. This is just incredible. I can’t believe that I have won The Great British Bake Off.

‘It just means everything, I have always been so self doubtful.  I have got this and that wrong with me and think I can’t do it, and you make excuses. For once I thought I am just going to go for it and put my everything into it.   Working all hours and I sacrificed time with the kids and the family. I am just so proud of myself because I have proved I can do it, and now I am here today the Winner!

‘My heart is racing … and I am already feeling sad that I am not coming back here and not seeing everyone… the people I have met are going to be best friends for life. This is the best thing I have ever done.’

Prue said  ‘Georgie did what she does best  -  classic British baking beautifully done, and won it and quite right too.’

Paul added ‘That’s a very special cake full of flavour and full of life. The Welsh Wonder, Georgie smashed it out of the park.’

 

Here Georgie talks about her win:

‘I am the first Welsh winner on The Great British Bake Off!   Oh my gosh being the first Welsh baker in the final was a massive achievement in itself.  So to have won it is just the best feeling in the world.   There were times in the series I thought I might be going home.  The fact that I did it for Wales was amazing, and I had massive support throughout  from Wales.  I hope I have done them proud. 

‘When I heard I had won it felt so surreal and I couldn’t quite believe it.   All my family were there watching me and it was a very emotional moment as Noel announced the win and handed me the trophy and flowers.   My legs went to jelly and at the same time my daughter came to hug me, and of course it completely floored both of us, it was very funny and we were all laughing.   So a lot of happy emotion was flying around.

‘Overall what I learned from the show was to really be myself, I don't need to pretend or mask who I am anymore. and to trust and believe in myself.

‘For my Showstopper it had an elderflower and lemon sponge, with strawberry and champagne confit, and then a lemon curd and elderflower buttercream – all classic summer flavours.   I got really nice comments from the Judges, they seemed to love the flavours.  Paul said he would be happy to have that served at a summer garden party and both judges were pleased that I kept to my traditional flavours.

‘The trophy is hidden under a dress in my bedroom to keep it away from the kids, but it will get centre stage in the kitchen so everyone can see it.  The kitchen is a focal point of the house filled with shelves of pottery and we overlook the valley and the sea from my kitchen.   It’s a farmhouse with duck, chickens (including Fanny)  and the two dogs, I am so lucky to have such a secluded idyllic lifestyle, it’s very peaceful and tranquil.

‘I would like to thank my husband and the kids for putting up with me not being around so much, and my family who helped look after the kids.  It was incredible to have such a good support system.  My kids have loved watching it and I know they will be ecstatic when they see the Final.

‘When I didn’t win the Technical I started to doubt myself and I texted home to say don’t get your hopes up but thankfully it all worked out well.   My necklace with my stillborn daughter’s imprints of her hands and feet broke in Week 2, and I was heartbroken too.   The production team managed to mend it and it was my good luck charm when I wore it at the final.

‘The production team look after you like royalty and you end up working very close with them, and having the same cameraman filming you each episode soon becomes a friend.   You can’t fault any of the crew and I had the time of my life, I didn’t want it to end!

‘My worst time was week 2, I felt so overwhelmed and self doubtful. My daughter's necklace broke and I told myself it was a sign that I should go home and wasn't good enough. The best moment was when Paul said “yes Georgie '' to my lemon entremet, it was the best feeling ever. The other best moment was Prue saying one of my recipes should be the way everyone makes tiramisu. 

‘My favourite overall challenge was the Entremets. I feel like I had really developed by this stage and I pushed myself to do the best I could and it paid off.  My worst one had to be the Biscuit showstopper. I gave myself too much to do and I was already in a bad state of mind, so it was just a very hard day. 

‘My fellow finalists were so great and we all wanted each other to win.  At the end of the Showstopper I helped Dylan finish his, that is what it was like the whole way through.  The support we all gave each other took away from the competitive side.

‘I hope that anyone with mental health issues will see this show, and see you can conquer your fears, keep positive - set a goal and your dreams can come true.  I definitely want to continue talking about mental health, I would love to bring out a cookbook to show that you can bake through your problems. This is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I am enjoying every single happy moment of it.

 

Georgie ends saying ‘I  have learned that I can do anything I set my mind to, and there are so many genuine people in the world who want the best for you - work hard and it will pay off. ‘

Georgie will join Jo Brand and Tom Allen and all the other bakers, on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Thursday 28 November at 8.00 pm on Channel 4.