Sheffield University researcher Rahul Mandal has won this year’s Great British Bake Off.
Rahul, who works at the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in between Sheffield and Rotherham, was crowned the winner last night after a dramatic finale to the Channel 4 series.
After a tricky signature challenge and a curve ball technical, the contestants were given four and a half hours to create a dessert by painting a picture with cake, pastry and biscuits. Rahul’s creation, a rock garden, was inspired by Victorian explorers exciting plant-findings. During the bake, his glass container smashed due to the heat in the tent, which was of course filmed during the heatwave this summer (remember that?).
Despite the smashed container, Rahul was given an extra 15 minutes and managed to impress the judges enough to win the competition, beating Kim-Joy and Ruby. An emotional Rahul said: “This is probably the first time that I have got something like this, like a trophy. I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry. I just feel I need to talk with my mum.”
Judge Paul Hollywood added: “He is one of those characters that you will miss when you are not with him. I don’t think he realises still how good he actually is and I think that’s what’s magic about Rahul.”
To celebrate his victory, Rahul will be signing copies of the Great British Bake Off’s new book at Waterstones on Orchard Square on 3 November from 12pm. More info here.
