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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Daniel Keane

The Great British Bake Off: Syabira Yusoff named winner of 13th series

Syabira Yusoff has won the 13th series of the The Great British Bake Off, it has been announced.

The 32-year-old cardiovascular research associate from London saw off competition from Sandro Farmhouse and Abdul Rehman Sharif in the final episode of the Channel 4 baking contest to take home the top prize.

After being handed the title during Tuesday's episode, Syabira said: "Thank you so much. I can't believe it, honestly it hasn't sunk in yet, it's unbelievable, this is the biggest achievement in my life.

"All the hard work, the trial and error, it has all been worth it. I am very very proud."

Throughout the series, Syabira made her mark on the tent with her unconventional flavours and unique baking style, earning star baker for three consecutive weeks.

When asked what it was like being a Bake Off finalist, Syabira described it as a "lottery jackpot".

"I've never been the top person in any kind of competition or any classes that I've attended so maybe baking is my hidden talent that I didn't discover until recently," she said.

The amateur bakers had a group hug before embarking on their final bakes of the series, from which co-presenter Noel Fielding was absent due to illness.

The final signature challenge saw the finalists tasked with creating a summer picnic using seasonal ingredients from across the UK in an ode to sustainability.

The three-hour task consisted of making six mini-cakes, six individual vegetarian pies and six finger sandwiches made from a classic white loaf making it "the most challenging signature ever seen in a bake-off final".

Syabira created a "no porky pie" using aubergine and mushroom, and a broad bean with coriander paste and salsa verde heart-shaped sandwich which judge Dame Prue Leith said was "unusual" but "really delicious".

Judge Paul Hollywood said: “Some of the flavours we have never had in the tent before and are unlikely to have again, she is an incredible baker.”

And 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.”

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