Great British Bake Off: did the right person win?

Did Frances deserve to win the coveted title of Great British Bake Off champion this year? Take a look at how the three finalists performed throughout the competition, and then have your say.

Frances Quinn – winner

Frances was this year’s dark horse. Despite her overwhelmingly ornate bakes, she kept herself to herself during the first few episodes and only started to gallop forward in week seven (the suet episode), when a fig roly-poly pudding with honey and goats’ cheese ice cream won her Star Baker.

Frances, 31 and from Market Harborough, was perhaps overly criticised by judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry for prioritising ‘style over substance’. Instead of abandoning her unique, imaginative designs altogether, she declared in canapé week (the semi-final) that her plan was ‘to put the style on the substance’. We admired her persistence, and think that she may be the most creative cook Bake Off has ever seen.  

Highlight: her canapés in the semi-final (especially the cauliflower cheese scones), which won her a rare handshake from Paul Hollywood.

Lowest point: her toppling biscuit tower in week five, which presenter Mel Giedroyc tried in vain to keep up.

Star Baker awards: 1

Odds to win on day of final: 9/2 (least likely)

Kimberley Wilson

Londoner Kimberley, 30, oozed confidence from the offset and, given her panache for flavour-matching and thorough knowledge of baking techniques, it’s easy to see why. Kimberley is proof of how far a positive mental attitude can get you – we never saw her break down over a bad bake.

The self-named ‘flavour magpie’ also shone when it came to savoury bakes – her chicken, bacon and squash pie earned her the Star Baker award in week four, and she always floated around the top three when it came to bread challenges. Kimberley certainly has the biggest smile of the bunch (we’ve seen it for real) and we admire the way she took Twitter criticism on the chin throughout the competition, when some mistook her confidence for smugness.

Highlight: her pecan and rosemary caramel apple pie in week four, which was ‘quite frankly delicious – one of the nicest pies I’ve had for some years,’ according to Paul Hollywood.

Lowest point: week five, when Kimberley’s black and white Viennese biscuit stack collapsed.

Star Baker awards: 2

Odds to win on day of final: 2/1 (second most likely to win)

Ruby Tandoh

Ruby, 21 and from Southend, was this year’s youngest Bake off contestant. Considering she only started baking two years ago, she did amazingly well to reach the final. Despite a somewhat 'suck it and see' style (compared to her fellow finalists, who were a touch more precise), Ruby consistently produced impressive bakes that were big on flavour and imagination.

Ruby was awarded the Star Baker accolade more times than any other baker – first during week two for her chocolate and orange peacock bread; then for the tasty citrus tea loaf she made in week six; and finally in the quarter-final, when she came first in the hazelnut dacquoise technical challenge. Unfortunately, Ruby has been at the centre of what can only be described as a tidal wave of abuse directed towards some of the female contestants – a sad fact which has somewhat tarnished this year’s Bake Off series.

Highlight: her perfect petit fours in week three, which she pulled off beautifully despite ‘winging it’.

Lowest point: week one, when her crème pat curdled. Sue Perkins was on chief consoling duty.

Star Baker awards: 3

Odds to win on day of final: 4/6

Have your say...

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