BOILING POINT...

DIPA JAKU High point of the series? When I made the sharing feast, something we eat every day at home, but I never got to practise it within the two-anda-half hour time limit. I’d award myself the best cook for completing the challenge! Best thing you’ve eaten?

Fiona’s swiss roll, Trevor’s aubergine fritters with honey and Philip’s crab pasty. I’ve never tasted anything like them all before! If you won would you try to cook professionally?

I‘d love to cook as my everyday job – I’d stay in a kitchen 24 hours a day if I could, dreaming up dishes that have the Dipa twist! PIPPA MIDDLEHURST What were your fears going into the final? The pressure is really intense. I am terrified my cooking will go wrong, but I was terrified of that every week! Why should you win?

I think all of the finalists deserved their place. I make food that is special to me and if the judges like that, then that’s amazing! If you won would you try to cook professionally?

I don’t think I could work in the restaurant business – I’m not business-minded enough. But I have a relentless passion for food and I’ll go where that takes me! PHILIP FRIEND What will you miss most? I’ll miss the camaraderie, especially Dipa, who was in the kitchen next to me. I’ll also miss having Claudia bounding in, exchanging witticisms. Worst thing you cooked in the competition?

Apart from my undercooked chicken in my sharing feast, I remain embarrassed with my ginger cake in the semi-final, which resulted in something that would pass for a brick. What is Mary Berry like?

Mary is as lovely as I had in my mind: warm, encouraging but with a no-nonsense flavour. She judged with a twinkle and heart.

THEN THERE WERE... Pippa, Dipa and Philip Britain’s Best Home Cook will be crowned by Mary Berry tonight on BBC1. We quizzed the finalists before their cook-off... HEART Judge Mary Berry