28 November 2023 , 21:09
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Matty Edgell is this year's winner of The Great British Bake Off.
Following a tense final alongside Josh Smalley and Dan Hunter, the PE and science teacher from Cambridgeshire was crowned the 2023 season 14 winner. Presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, along with judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, congratulated the 28-year-old in Tuesday night's episode on Channel 4.
"I hope GBBO might just change my life a little bit but being a PE teacher is something I really enjoy. My next big baking project is our wedding cake," Matty explained. It was after last week's tricky patisserie challenges that Tasha was sent home, leaving the last three bakers for an all-male final with Dan, Josh and Matty. Speaking ahead of winning, Matty admitted feeling like the "underdog" who wanted to "prove" himself.
Matty Edgell was crowned on Tuesday (Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon / Love Productions)
Matty, Josh and Danny were the final three (Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon / Love Productions)"Approaching the final I just wanted to give a good account of myself," he told the Press Association. "I never focused on the stage we were at, as I knew that wouldn't be helpful. I felt like I was the underdog so wanted to prove to myself and anyone else that my place was valid with some final worthy bakes."
Last week saw Dan, Tash, Matty and Josh take on one of their most difficult showstopper challenges yet as Paul Hollywood tasked them to create mille feuille desserts, with some finding the intricacy of the French dessert too much in the Bake Off tent.
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The final showstopper proved stressful with just four hours to make the intricate dessert, with Tasha confessing: "I’m behind, the pastry needs to bake and I’ve still got mango curd to make. This is the first time I might not actually finish a challenge."
2023 winner Matty, who created a boozy concoction for his entry, attempted to stay calm as he said: "Everything is now in the oven, I need it to be cool before I assemble anything." Dan, who modelled his finale bake on Sam Fender and a guitar design, joked: "I’m just making my amaretto mousse that's a gelatin mix that’s gone in with the amaretto. That'll give it a nice bit of body, hopefully a bit of strength to withstand the leaning tower of electric guitars."
After all the baking was completed it came down to a decision from the watchful eyes of the judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, with all four contestants having mistakes pointed out from their showstoppers. In the end, the pair gave the Star Baker prize to Josh and chose to send Tasha home. A tearful and emotional Tasha shared a sad goodbye as she said: "They really are friends for life. It's changed me for life, realising I can do so much more than I thought I was capable of."
The official Great British Bake Off account shared on the social media platform: "Sadly Alison was unwell and not able to take part in the filming of the Semi Final - but we can assure you she shall return for the Bake Off Final!"