Highest ratings for final BBC Bake Off
THE last Great British Bake Off on the BBC scored its highest viewing figures ever.
An average of 14 million television viewrs tuned in to watch as PE teacher Candice Brown was named Bake Off champion before the show’s controversial switch to Channel 4.
It was about one million more than the number who watched last year’s finale.
The programme peaked with an audience 14.8 million in overnight figures, although numbers are set to rise as people watch later on catch-up services.
Charlotte Moore, director of BBC content, said: “BBC One brought over half of the British viewing public together to watch the final of The Great British Bake Off, delivering the highest ever ratings!”
She congratulated the Bake Off team and thanked the “loyal fans over the last seven series”.
She added that there will be two Bake Off specials at Christmas ahead of its Channel 4 move.
The final marked the last time Mary Berry will serve as a judge and Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as hosts before judge Paul Hollywood switches channel with the programme, apart from the forthcoming festive specials.
Brown, 31, took the title ahead of rivals Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted a ring on the third finger of her left hand in a recent picture on Instagram and suggested she might be engaged to her long-term boyfriend Liam.
He featured in the episode, hugging and kissing her as he congratulated her, but she was not wearing an engagement ring during filming.