Syabira Yusoff has been named the winner of The Great British Bake Off’s 13th season.
Syabira, 32, faced off against Sandro Farmhouse, 30, and Abdul Rehman Sharif, 29, in the series finale, which aired on Tuesday (15 November).
“Well done Syabira,” Paul Hollywood said. “She can be a bit of a risk taker with her flavours and it has worked. Some of the flavours we have never had in the tent before and [are] unlikely to have again, she is an incredible baker.”
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.”
On hearing her win, Syabira said: “Thank you so much. I can’t believe it. Honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet, this is the biggest achievement in my life. All the hard work, all the trial and error, it has all been worth it. I am very very proud.”
The theme for the finale was sustainability – described as a “baked celebration of our planet” – meaning the remaining contestants were required to use ingredients that were as local and sustainable as possible, excluding meat.
Then, in a series-first, the bakers were tasked with using the bread they made in the Signatures for the second round.
After a nail-biting three rounds, hosts Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith announced Syabira as the Star Baker.
In the previous episode, which bid farewell to fan-favourite Janusz in a tumultuous semi-final round, American viewers were baffled when the judges were confused by Syabira’s peanut butter and fruit jelly pairing.
Hollywood reacted, saying: “Peanut and fruit. You wouldn’t normally put them together.”
While Leith agreed, calling the concoction “quite strange”.
