The Great British Bake Offhas kept us entertained for ten glorious weeks, and last night the show finally crowned its winner. After tackling everything from Halloween bakes to Mexican cuisine throughout the competition, finalists Abdul, Sandro and Syabira returned to the tent one last time.
Spoilers ahead, obvs.
After completing their final three challenges, *drum roll*...
Syabira was crowned the winner.
What happened on last night's Great British Bake Off?
Last night's final saw Abdul, Sandro and Syabira compete to be this years winner. The finalists were tasked with a Signature challenge inspired by a traditional summer picnic, which was then followed by the tricky technical challenge of making a Summer pudding bombe. Abdul came out on top with his summer bombe, however Syabira impressed the judges with her edible sculpture showstopper that celebrated the planet.
In true Bake Off fashion, all of the eliminated bakers returned for the final and they all saw Syabira crowned as year's winner.
When did the contestants leave Bake Off?
Week one - Will
Former charity director Will's bakes were just not up to scratch during cake week and he was sent home at the end of week one.
Week two - Maisam
We had to say goodbye to 18-year-old Maisam whose biscuits were not as elaborate as her fellow bakers. As the youngest baker in the tent this year, Maisam said as she left the tent, "I'm only 18, so at this age I've done something to be proud of. This is not the end of my baking journey. It's where it starts."
Week three - no one
During week 3 there was no elimination due to contestants being off ill.
Week four - Rebs and James
Because of the previous week, during week 4 (Mexican week) there was a double elimination that saw viewers say goodbye to both Rebs and James. In her leaving letter to Bake Off, Rebs said, "I'm so grateful for this year's bakers who have become another family to me. I learn from their epic talent everyday."
James also shared the love for his fellow bakers saying, "I have never had such an amazing bunch of people around me; both the bakers and the Bake Off team."
Week five - Carole
Dessert week saw us say goodbye to Carole. In her leaving letter she said, " I feel very humbled and privileged and lucky enough to be one of the class of 2022, who are all an amazing, talented group of people, who are going to be life long friends."
Week six - Dawn
Dawn fell victim to Halloween week, after leaving the tent she said, " Our merry band will remain friends, I'm sure of that. To anyone thinking of applying, do it!"
Week seven - Kevin
We had to say goodbye to Kevin at the end of custard week, but in his leaving letter he said, "One of the hardest things I've ever done, but oh, I'd do it all over again tomorrow."
Week eight - Maxy
Maxy was eliminated in pastry week. She later said, "Having gotten so far in the competition, I would have obviously loved to have made it to the finals, however I am still super proud of how far I managed to come. Everything happens for a reason."
Week nine - Janusz
Janusz was eliminated in Patisserie Week, which also happened to be the semi-finals. In a statement after his elimination, he wrote, "Thank you SO much for taking me in and embracing me and for the love, support and fun over the last 9 weeks, and thank you to every person who was in that tent on and behind the camera with me who became family! Janusz has left the tent 💕."
Week ten (the final) - Abdul and Sandro
There until the end, Sandro and Abdul finished the competition as Bake Off finalists. Abdul ended the competition on a high after coming first in the final technical challenge. After Syabira was crowned the winner, Abdul said, "For me, this is a massive achievement. I'm so happy, I'm so proud of myself. And I'm happy that Syabira got it as well. You could see in her how hard she has worked for this."
Sandro also came out of the competition as a finalist and at the final he said, "I'm so proud of Syabira. She fully deserves this, she's the queen of flavours.It's been an amazing experience, it's been a dream. You guys made my dream come true."
Winner - Syabira
Syabira was crowned the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2022. After she was announced the winner she said, "This is the biggest achievement in my life. All of the hard work, all of the trial and error- it's all worth it. I'm very, very proud."
When did Great British Bake Off 2022 start?
The new series launched on Tuesday 13 September 2022 and because it's already started it means you can catch up on All 4 immediately.
Where is Great British Bake Off 2022 filmed?
This year, production has returned to Welford Park in Berkshire, after a brief relocate due to COVID. Welford Park is a country house and estate in the village of Welford in Berkshire.
Great British Bake Off 2022 contestants
Abdul 29, Electronics Engineer, London
Raised in Saudi Arabia to Pakistani parents, Abdul is the middle of three children – and the one who got into trouble for pulling apart the electronic devices around the house! All’s well that ends well, though, and he is now an electronics engineer, dividing his time between London and Cambridge. A keen salsa dancer, and a self-confessed space nerd, his interest in baking began when he and his graduate colleagues baked for each other to brighten up their daily coffee breaks. He applies his precision thinking to the chemistry of creating bakes. Matcha is among his favourite flavours.
Carole, 59, Supermarket Cashier, Dorset
Born and bred in the West Country, Carole lives on a Dorset hillside with her husband, Michael. Her segment on a local radio show is called ‘Compost Carole’; during which she shares her gardening know-how with listeners. Carole brings the artistry that she uses in her garden to her baking, creating colourful and eclectic bakes that are inspired by her passion for horticulture. She began her dedicated baking journey with a first birthday cake for her eldest granddaughter Maisie. Since then, she has refined her skills, using YouTube to teach herself the finer techniques of decoration. Her favourite flavours are fruity and punchy.
Dawn, 60, IT Manager, Bedfordshire
The eldest of three children, Dawn lives with her partner Trevor (the self-styled person who tidies up the kitchen after her!) and is mother to three, step-mother to two, and gran/step-gran to four. Describing herself as an artist in and out of the kitchen, Dawn loves the challenge of an illusion cake (the more impossible-sounding, the better), favouring whacky and intricate designs that allow her to express her creative talent. She prides herself on her steady hand and attention to detail, especially when it comes to the intricacy required for lace patterns on biscuits. Her favourite flavours are lemon, salted caramel and anything nutty.
James, 25, Nuclear Scientist, Cumbria
Proud kilt-wearer James grew up in the east-end of Glasgow and moved to England after university. He is a self-proclaimed board- game geek and loves horror films from the 70s and 80s. An avid music fan, reflect in his baking style; which is now significantly better than it was during his childhood when he was burning pancakes in his mother’s kitchen! He enjoys the technical side of baking, but is in his element when he makes his bakes his own, with his signature ‘child-friendly horror’ style and adorable decoration. His favourite flavours are anything autumnal, such as mixed spice, apples and caramel.
Janusz, 34, Personal Assistant to Head Teacher, East Sussex
Janusz grew up in Poland and moved to the UK 10 years ago. He is now living on the southeast coast with his boyfriend, Simon, and their sausage dog, Nigel. Apart from baking, Janusz’s passions include internet culture, watching drag (he even bought his boyfriend a statue of RuPaul) and collecting movie props. He was inspired to bake by his mother, who always baked on a Saturday; a tradition Janusz continued when he moved away from home to go to university. He describes his baking style as ‘cartoon-like, colourful and camp’, and loves working Polish ingredients into British staples. His favourite flavours are ginger and chocolate.
Kevin, 33, Music Teacher, Lanarkshire
Surrounded by family and much-loved animals, Kevin is devoted to his nearest and dearest and spends as much time as possible with his wife, Rachel, and his siblings and their partners, laughing, eating and playing board games. A talented musician, who not only teaches but also performs, Kevin is principally a saxophonist, but is accomplished at the flute, the piano and the clarinet too. He began baking when he was 17. His ethos in the kitchen is to use the best, seasonal ingredients and to spend time refining his technique – with these in hand, he believes the presentation will take care of itself. He loves interesting combinations of fruits, herbs, nuts and spices.
Maisam, 18, Student & Sales Assistant, Greater Manchester
Originally from Libya, Maisam has lived in the UK since she was nine. She speaks five languages (English, Arabic, Amazigh, Spanish and Turkish) aims to make that seven by the time she turns 20. Maisam has a strong creative streak, spending her spare time photographing still-life and the world around her. She has been baking since she was about 13 years old, and she loves the science required to get a bake right – often trying something multiple times until it is perfect. Her favourite flavours are inspired by her Mediterranean heritage – she loves the tang of olives, the sweetness of dates and the nuttiness of sesame seeds.
Maxy, 29, Architectural Assistant, London
Swedish-born Maxy studied fine art and went on to achieve a Masters degree in Architecture, pausing her final qualifications to raise her two daughters, Tyra and Talia. She has DIY-ed every corner of her flat – from laying the flooring and resurfacing the balcony to painting the walls and hanging her own artwork. She began baking five years ago, with the arrival of her first daughter, and uses her strong artistic skills to create beautifully decorated celebration cakes. Her favourite flavours link to her Scandinavian upbringing – the sweet and delicate spice of cardamom and saffron buns and cinnamon rolls.
Rebs, 23, Masters Student, County Antrim
Rebs spent her childhood in the countryside in Northern Ireland and loves everything to do with Irish culture – she can Irish dance and play the tin whistle. Her earliest baking memory is of being a child, aged only three years old, helping her mum in the kitchen, and of eating her granny’s renowned lemon meringue pies! More recently, she returned to baking as a way to unwind from the stress of a busy life in the tech world. Flavour is paramount for her, and she has more recently started to play around with Middle Eastern ingredients – in a nod to her boyfriend, Jack’s Turkish family heritage.
Sandro, 30, Nanny, London
Sandro was born in Angola, but fled the Angolan war with his mum when he was two, settling then in London. Passionate about fitness, Sandro is a keen boxer and has a background in ballet and breakdance too! When Sandro was 21 his father passed away and he turned to baking as a form of therapy. Now, he lives and breathes it, and is often found rustling up bakes in a relaxed vibe with the telly on, or running virtual baking classes for children with autism. He likes to infuse his bakes with flavours from his Angolan heritage – the spice of paprika paired with tangy cheese, and sweet bakes smothered in sticky dulce de leche.
Syabira, 32, Cardiovascular Research Associate, London
Malaysian-born Syabira is one of seven children. She moved to the UK in 2013 to study for her PhD and is now happily settled in London with her boyfriend, Bradley. She loves gaming and often spends evenings playing an online World-War-II simulation game, which she credits with teaching her about leadership in the real world. Syabira started baking relatively recently – in 2017 – with a red velvet cake, which reminded her of the treats she shared with her friends back home. She is all for giving Malaysian flavour twists to British classics – chicken rendang cornish pasties are a particular favourite.
Will, 45, Former Charity Director, London
One of three children, Will grew up just outside Bristol, before leaving for university in Liverpool. Now he lives in London with his wife, three children and a cat called Tiggy. When he’s not hanging out with his kids, Will loves DIY and carpentry, which indulges his background in architecture, and cooking up new and exciting dishes in the kitchen. His passion for baking began when he was two, when his mum would give him her pastry trimmings to turn into little jam tarts. Intrigued by the technical side of baking, he is a particular fan of using yeast – and not just in bread! His favourite flavours are salted caramel and paprika (but not at the same time).
Who were the judges on Great British Bake Off 2022?
Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith returned as the baking Sith Lords - sorry, Sith judges.
Who presented Great British Bake Off 2022?
Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding returned to host the 2022 series.