David wins Bake Off in emotional final after Steph’s souffle collapses
Underdog David Atherton has been crowned winner of The Great British Bake Off after an emotional final.
He saw off competition from four-time star baker Steph Blackwell, and the steady talent of Alice Fevronia, who were left in tears during a stressful climax to the show.
David stunned judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with his showstopper, and was the only contestant to present a serviceable souffle.
Steph was reduced to tears, saying, “I just feel a bit stupid,” after her own effort collapsed into liquid. Alice was left crying at the thought that her family might not arrive to see her finish the show.
David said: “It feels so good.
It’s been weeks and weeks of intensity and fatigue and then to finish it with this. I saved the best ’til last, and it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Contestants were asked to craft a chocolate cake to a professional standard in the signature.
David’s prune and Armanganc creation was deemed “too boozy”, Alice was praised for her flavours and Steph impressed in the first challenge.
The competition favourite after numerous star baker wins struggled in the technical, and was reduced to tears after failing to set her souffles, with Noel Fielding saying her sudden dip in form in the final was “heartbreaking”.
David was named the winner of the challenge, and continued to impress with his picnic basket showstopper, with classic snacks created from cake, biscuit, and bread.
Leith said: “David is an extraordinary baker and I am so full of admiration for him.
“Right from the beginning he has never lost his temper he has always been very neat and organised. It was really a question of the tortoise catching the hare, he just steadily went on and won.”