Gran tribute wins Bake Off New Year special
GREAT British Bake Off finalist Steven Carter-Bailey fended off ex-winner Candice Brown to claim star baker in the show’s New Year special.
Carter-Bailey, who competed in 2017, returned to the Bake Off tent, triumphing in all three challenges and earning the first Paul Hollywood hug for a complex showstopper.
Brown, who won the seventh series of the show in 2016, crafted a series of successful bakes but could not compete with Carter-Bailey, whose designs were deemed “unbelievable” by judge Paul.
The winner said: “That felt really good. It was a challenge to walk back into that tent. To do it and win is an immense feeling. What a start to 2019. It couldn’t be better.”
Marzipan
Holding his Bake Off trophy, he added: “I’m going to walk away and start 2019 with three new friends, and a new plate.”
Brown admitted defeat, saying: “I’ve learnt that Steven is unstoppable when it comes to fondant, and I have learnt that I still love The Great British Bake Off.”
She added: “I came here as a winner, and of course it would have been nice to do that double but it was really good fun. It was great to be back.”
Tamal Ray, a doctor and 2015 finalist, also returned alongside Kate Henry, who competed in 2014.
First, the four contestants were challenged to bake a vibrantly decorated iced stollen wreath.
Carter-Bailey’s “perfectly baked” stag night stollen hazelnut marzipan wreath impressed Hollywood, Carter-Bailey, Brown, Henry and Ray. Right, Hollywood, hosts Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding and Leith
resulting in a Hollywood handshake. “Ticks all my boxes,” he said.
Next, judge Prue Leith challenged the contestants to bake four snow eggs of French meringue floating on a sea of creme Anglaise. The judges praised Brown’s creations.
“Thin, lovely caramel and very beautiful custard,” said Leith as she cracked Brown’s caramel lattice with a spoon. But the judges awarded Brown second place, handing pole
position to Carter-Bailey. He said afterwards: “I hope I don’t have a repeat of 2017 when I lose it at the final.”
For the showstopper the contestants were tasked with making a 3D New Year’s resolution cake.
Brown, known for her crimson lips, said her resolution was to wear more lipstick. She baked a pair of lips and a tube of red lipstick.
Carter-Bailey’s resolution was to communicate with his
family more. So he recreated his grandmother’s rotary telephone and table she sat at each week to call the family.
Leith told him: “Those flavours are fantastic.”
Hollywood added: “You’ve got that bitterness from the chocolate, you’ve got that hazelnut in there, you’ve got the silkiness in there.
“You’ve produced something that tastes as good as it looks. A very, very rare thing indeed. An exceptional job.”