Cow mooved from trench
He so deserves to milk this win
RESIDENTS of a Russian village used construction equipment to rescue a cow that fell into a deep trench.
A video shows the bovine trapped in Kunashak, where locals rallied to free it using an excavator and a tower crane.
Sandi watches as Rahul has first try at doughnuts ON your marks... get set... break! Rahul Mandal won The Great British Bake Off last night, smashing it in the final despite having to cope when a jar shattered and spiked his cake mix with shards of glass.
As temperatures in the tent hit 32C the storage jar spontaneously exploded during the Showstopper and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith gave Rahul 15 minutes extra to finish his creation.
The 30-year-old research scientist regained his composure to create an incredible edible garden with almost 200 components, securing victory against fellow finalists Ruby Bhogal and Kim-joy.
Shy Rahul said: “I never ever dreamed I would get into Bake Off, let alone win it. Winning Bake Off is about the coolest thing that I have done in my life.
“I hope it will help me gather some more confidence. I hope it helps me try new things and be a bit more adventurous in baking and life itself.”
TRICKY
The other challenges involved making doughnuts and baking bread on a campfire. Rahul said: “Growing up in India we didn’t ever eat doughnuts, so I have never had one, let alone made one.
“The technical was as usual something out of our comfort zone – baking bread on an open fire. Ironically, in India we do cook chapati on an open fire, but not necessarily in a field.
“I wanted to combine my love of gardening with baking for my Rock Garden, but it was very tricky.”
Talking of the moment the jar broke, he said: “I got such a shock because it came out of nowhere, I was busy making caramel, toasting hazelnuts and making a chocolate cake mixture.
“It broke into a thousand pieces and went in everything – so it all had to be chucked.
“It almost broke me. I really thought that was it. Fortunately I was able to prove I could finish it.”
He said presenter Sandi Toksvig was a big support. “She kissed me on the forehead and that helped calm me down. I used to call her Auntie Sandi.”
He got on well with her co-host Noel Fielding, too, although he admits: “I didn’t always get what he was talking about. But I now know who Luke Skywalker is and what a fist bump is.
“It was funny when Noel described the finalists – Kim-joy as whimsical, Ruby as stroppy and he asked me what I was
Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith were certainly giving it their best Dermot O’leary. “I have no idea who’s going to win this final?” exclaimed Paul. “It’s a totally level playing field,” claimed Prue.
Yeah, right. Ruby and Kim-joy were valiant challengers, but as far as favourites go Rahul was even more red hot than the coals in the fire pit used in the final Technical Challenge.
Everything I know about baking could be piped onto the back of a chocolate button but even I said
I was putting my money on him way back in Week Four.
Thanks to rampant overuse, the value of a Hollywood Handshake may have diminished this year – but Rahul still received way more than anyone else. It was also obvious Prue was in awe of his imagination and skill.
As well as being a great baker, Rahul was a great story. The timorous immigrant boy who decided the best way to learn about his new home was to bake his way through its history and customs. You can hear the orchestra tuning up already.
Then there was his daily fortifying glass of milk. He needed it last night. Not only did he overcome that weird outdoor pitta-making challenge, he somehow also managed to get his head together after one of his glass jars shattered.
After surviving that he deserves all the opportunities that are about to come his way. One thing though, Rahul. It might be time to ditch that trusty half-pint tumbler. From now on you’ll be needing the full bottle.
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF JUDGE
and I said, ‘depressing’. Well, I was at that moment. It was so stressful.”
But he got a boost from Paul and Prue. He said: “I was so pleased when Paul praised me for my bakes and Prue often praised me for my flavours. I am not very good at accepting compliments. I am quite shy as a person. I tend to show my emo the s hear
Du Holl awar
Pr 78, sa Rahu that kept tion than
On “You
La
I don’t think he realises how good he is. That’s the magic of Rahul
PAUL HOLLYWOOD