Who will be Berry’s pick for best cook? B

RITAIN’S most polite competition heads into its final, where 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 blood bath,” 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, but there has been Claudia Winkleman 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 start with the Recipe Challenge. Cue gasps of shock.

Judges Mary Berry, Dan Doherty and Chris Bavin would like a Scotch egg, so everyone concerns themselves with the thickness of sausage meat and the optimum time to boil the egg.

In the Cooks’ Challenge, they must use mushrooms and chicken for 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.

Back in the kitchen they prepare their ultimate main and pudding for dinner with the judges.

It will be a duel to the death before one is crowned the winner... or perhaps, just a group hug.