Wednesday was a very bittersweet night for me. As you may have guessed, I am obsessed with Bake Off, it's my absolutely favourite show and I love every iota of it. I love the witty banter of Mel and Sue, I love Paul's mysterious steel glare and, of course, I love the Queen of Baking, Mary Berry. In a TV world of drama and sob stories, I love that Bake Off is simple, classic and quintessentially British.
I am gutted that Bake Off is leaving the BBC. It is already ruined because 3/4 of the Fab Four will be missing, it will be made even worse by endless ads and product placement and recaps and cliffhangers. I feel every member of the Fab Four made the right move for themselves - Mel and Sue and Mary did the right thing by staying with BBC; I also think Paul did the right thing staying with Bake Off.
I am also devastated on a personal level. The whole purpose of this baking blog was to prepare me to enter the Great British Bake Off. I had downloaded the entry form two years previously, but did not have any pastry, bread or patisserie experience. Therefore, the aim of this blog was to expand and refine my baking skills, in preparation for applying for next year's Bake Off. Unfortunately, my Bake Off dream will never be acheived. I will not enter any Bake Off that does not include Mary Berry. Bake Off without Mary Berry is like a cake without eggs - flat and joyless.
I'm still proud of myself - I've acheived a lot and really pushed myself and expanded into whole areas of baking I'd never experienced before. I've got all my fingers and toes crossed that Mary, Mel, Sue and the BBC devise a new baking competition - I'll be the first in line if that eventually happens!
Enough moaning - back to the final!
I was in very mixed feelings about the result. I'm a big Andrew fan - I love his precision, creativity and talent. However, on the day, I do think Candice deserved to win. I've never warmed to Candice, disliking her tendency to alway go over the top, always have to give everything a 'twist; and always presenting things in a ridiculous way (the piano and the bird cage spring to mind). Personal opinion aside, she is an excellent baker and definitely does not deserve the internet backlash she recieved. Whether you like or dislike someone, cyber bullying is cyber bullying and attacking someone personally is disgusting and childish. I am impressed with anyone who can bake in a little black dress and wedge heels and not get a speck of flour on them! Having said that, I adore Andrew and was very disappointed on his behalf.
All in all, a very emotionally mixed night for me. I am very sad that something so wonderful has come to an end whilst still in its prime. I think all that is left for us to do is what I always do - keep baking!
