Syabira Yusoff has been crowned the winner of Great British Bake Off with her “risk-taking” flavours. The 32-year-old cardiovascular research associate was named the winner after all three finalists were stretched to the limit, reports MIrrorOnline.
Judge Paul Hollywood enthused: “Some of the flavours we have never had in the tent before and are unlikely to have again, she is an incredible baker.”
Fellow judge Prue Leith added: “She is creative and she is careful, she practises like anything, and she is imaginative, she just has the lot. She is a very skilful baker.”
Malaysian-born Syabira, who came to the UK to study for a PhD in 2013, described the win as her “biggest achievement”.
Syabira said: “I can’t believe it, honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet. All the hard work, all the trial and error, it has all been worth it.”
Runners-up Abdul Rehman Sharif, 29, and Sandro Farmhouse, 30, described her as the “Queen of Flavours”. Syabira beat 11 others over 10 weeks to win the Channel 4 show. Her “no porky pies” with aubergine, mushroom, quail’s egg and piccalilli, plus sandwiches of broadbean, coriander and salsa verde, pleased the judges in the signature challenge.
But her Summer Pudding Bombe for the technical section collapsed after the jelly and mousse failed to set. Luckily her orangutan showstopper proved impressive.
Syabira, who lives in London with her boyfriend Bradley, said the win would change her, adding: “I became more confident and trusted my instincts.
“There is only one way to know if you can do it – just do it!”
One of seven siblings, Syabira, an avid gamer, says she plans to launch a YouTube channel showcasing basic baking techniques. She loves Malaysian twists to British classics, including chicken rendang Cornish pasties.
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