The Great British Bake Off: Meet The Crafty Finalists

Today is a very sad one for us, because later we will see the series of The Great British Bake Off draw to a close.

However, it is easy to be perked up by the prospect of a thrilling evening of baking as Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood get set to judge the bakers’ scrumptious creations for the last time before one of them is crowned the winner.

The manly contenders are a real treat and we’d let them bake up a storm in our kitchen any day!

The finalists have been baking up delicious treats for weeks

Brendan Lynch

Her.ie has been keeping a peeper on Irish-born Brendan from the start and he is most definitely our favourite of the lot. His gorgeous retro-style baking amazes and his attention to the minute details has had Mary Berry throwing compliments at him since week one.

The 63-year old started baking at the age of 11 when he made his first apple pie. However his family disapproved so he didn’t take up baking again until he was 28.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Brendan said: “I grew up in a strict Catholic, rural family where boys didn’t do baking — girls did. It was stamped out of me and I didn’t bake again until I was 28. It was a touch of the Billy Elliots.”
The dessert genius has won star baker twice but said that tonight’s final will bring along some challenges.

“We had to make these iced squares and you have to dip them into this gloopy pink fondant and oh, I thought it was the messiest thing ever. That was my most embarrassing moment.”

Brendan Lynch is a Her.ie favourite!

James Morton

This baker has become a bit of a pastry heartthrob since the beginning of the competition for his creative ideas and his nerd-esque vibe.

The 21-year-old is a definite risk taker and is inspired by his granny.

“My interest was nurtured by my granny from when I was tiny. I would go to her house after school and she taught me the basics; the pastries, the apple pies, the Victoria sponges, all the British classics — and from a Mary Berry cookbook. 

“Sadly, Granny has passed away, but she did teach my sister, too. And when my sis came to the final, Mary told her that she should enter the Bake Off next year.”

James revealed that his biggest mistake in the Bake Off was the gingerbread challenge for which he won star baker.

James says: “My biggest disaster was the gingerbread thing, to be honest. I thought I was going home that week, but it turned out OK in the end. The judging is very fair — they judge on looks first, but primarily on taste.”

James has become a bit of a pastry pin-up in recent weeks

John Whaite

Unlike the other finalists, John is prone to the odd baking disaster! We’ve seen him add salt to a cake instead of sugar and he nearly chopped off his finger but John can also be magnificent.

He began baking after his parents split when he was a child and went on to study law, despite his baking passion.

The bread master revealed that he sometimes avoids the carbs to lose a few pounds but “always finds’ himself ‘crawling back for a crusty loaf.”

His biggest disaster to date was week seven: ‘Oh, the worst week for me was the enriched dough in week seven. It was a shame, because I really like working with dough, but everything got on top of me. My stollen was a disaster.’ 

His problems began with the ‘starter’ mixture he’d prepared in a bid to get the cake to rise. 
“I didn’t get my starter for it out of the fridge in time and it was too cold to mix into the dough. In the end, it didn’t rise properly.”

 

John Whaite can be a bit of a mess in the kitchen

The final airs tonight on BBC Two at 8pm. We most certainly will be tuning in and rooting for Brendan! Who do you think will take home the prize?