Taste of victory

BRITAIN’S BEST HOME COOK

BBC1, 8pm THE country’s most polite contest heads into its final stage, where competition between the three remaining cooks will be as fierce as lovable bunny rabbits.

“It’s a really cuddly battle. It’s hardly going to be a bloodbath,” admits Phil, who notes that he has been in a Pippa and Dipa sandwich for the last few weeks (best not dwell on that).

No, this hasn’t exactly been a cut-throat competition. No bitching, no lobbing cakes in the bin, no sidelong glances.

Sure, there was no tent, and no Mel and Sue either, but there has been Claudia and her fringe, which we love just as much. So let’s get the bunting out (oops, wrong show) as the cooks take on the final.

Pippa looks about to cry, Dipa says her “knees have gone”, while Phil is laughing deliriously.

They’re on the edge, especially when told that everything will be back to front – they will be starting with the Recipe Challenge. Cue gasps of shock.

Judges Mary Berry, Dan Doherty and Chris Bavin would like a Scotch egg, so everyone immediately concerns themselves with the thickness of sausage meat and the optimum time it takes to boil an egg. Next, in the Cooks’ Challenge, they must use mushrooms and chicken to create one spectacular dish. Then it’s back to the house for a “quiet night”, says Claudia, lying through her teeth. Watch out for a big surprise. Once in the kitchen they prepare their ultimate main and pudding for dinner with the judges. It will be a fight to the death before one is crowned the series winner. Or perhaps it’s more likely to end with a goodnatured group hug... Claudia