Great British Bake Off final: who is going to win?
Richard may be the bookie's favourite, but he 'shouldn't count his cookies before they've baked'
Richard Burr is the bookie's favourite to win tonight's Great British Bake Off final, but commentators believe Nancy Birtwhistle and Luis Troyano are still in with a chance.
The fifth season of the baking show reaches a conclusion tonight as the three remaining contestants show off their Viennoiserie making skills in the finale.
Burr, a 38-year-old builder from North London is a firm favourite after winning a record five star baker awards and has even been endorsed by last year's winner Frances Quinn.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"His light touch with pastry and flair for éclairs – always baked with a signature pencil perched behind his ear- have won over the hearts and taste buds of the Great British Bake Off judges," writes The Guardian's Hannah Ellis-Petersen.
"I hope we've turned over some stereotypes," Burr told The Independent. "Builders aren't particularly known for their cooking abilities, but I think more fellas should bake."
Others, however, are hesitant to predict a one horse race. Despite being the popular choice, "there's always a chance that he'll screw up and implode at the last hurdle," says The Guardian's Stuart Heritage.
The Daily Mirror's Frankie Goodway warns that Richard "shouldn't count his cookies before they've baked", pointing out that the contestant with the most star baker wins has never won the final.
The Independent's Jess Denhem argues that retiree Nancy Birtwhistle from Lincolnshire deserves the Bake Off crown.
"Nancy is one cool gran, and the only female in the final," writes Denhem. "She's proved herself more than capable of fighting off the men and is, in her own words, 'traditional with a contemporary twist'. She's given us the most laughs this series and for that alone deserves the title."
And then there is Luis Troyano, the Spanish-bred, Stockport-raised graphic designer described as the dark horse of the competition. He blew the judges away during bread week, with Paul Hollywood describing his bakes as "pure alchemy" but has remained under the radar ever since.
"The precision, creativity and melding of flavours from his Latin roots, such as 'Cage on the Rocky Hill' during European cake week, place him far above his more pedestrian competitors," writes Matilda Battersby, also in the Independent.
A round-up of this season's most memorable moments:
Bingate
The infamous 'bingate' episode caused outrage across social media, with viewers accusing 70-year-old Diana Beard of sabotage after she appeared to remove fellow contestant Iain Watters' baked Alaska from the freezer. Beard accused the BBC of "misleading" editing after she left the show for unrelated reasons.
"Smutty" innuendo
"From 'hot baps' to 'erect biscuits', the innuendos are what makes the contest such enjoyable watching," writes the Independent's Jess Denhem. But not everyone was amused, with a handful of viewers complaining to the BBC about the "constant smutty remarks" made by hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc.
The cliches
The Daily Mirror has produced a GBBO bingo card to help viewers keep track of all the usual cliches tonight including the presence of "soggy bottoms", the hosts' penchant for matching blazers and the squirrels.
The Great British Bake Off final airs tonight Wednesday 8 October at 8pm on BBC2
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 category 5 cartoons about hurricane Helene
Artists take on precarious conditions, planning ahead, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Wolfs: 'comedy thriller' stumbles despite George Clooney and Brad Pitt
While the crime caper might 'pleasingly pass a Saturday night' its star-studded duo cannot ultimately salvage it
By The Week UK Published
-
The death of Hassan Nasrallah
In the Spotlight The killing of Hezbollah's leader is 'seismic event' in the conflict igniting in the Middle East
By The Week UK Published
-
The Great British Turn Off: have TV viewers had their fill?
Talking Point Series 13 of the television baking contest has failed to impress critics
By Fred Kelly Published
-
The Great British Bake Off’s most memorable moments
Why Everyone’s Talking About Show returns to Channel 4 next week with 12 bakers ready to take on the challenge
By Julia O'Driscoll Published
-
Sandi Toksvig: women are being ‘edited out and marginalised’ of panel shows
In Depth QI host says women perform cleverly but are then seen ‘just laughing at the boys’
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Great British Bake Off 2018 contestants: who is tipped to win?
Speed Read A dozen amateur bakers from across the UK are lining up to impress Prue and Paul tonight
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The Great British Bake Off 2018: everything you need to know
In Depth Channel 4’s ever-popular baking show returns for a ninth series next week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
What is on TV tonight? Who Is America?, Nadiya’s Family Favourites and Shawshank Redemption
Speed Read The Week rounds up the best picks for this evening’s television
By The Week Staff Published
-
Christmas TV guide 2017: 10 shows you won’t want to miss
The Week Recommends Doctor Who, Call the Midwife and the first ever Channel 4 Bake-Off Christmas special
By The Week Staff Published
-
Mel, Sue and Mary ‘abandoned’ Bake Off says Paul Hollywood
Speed Read Current judge says he became ‘most hated man in Britain’ when he moved with show to Channel 4
By The Week Staff Published