Yahoo News Bake Off: The Professionals fans hail 'deserving' winners after tense final
The judges said the winners were the 'most consistent' team
What did you miss?
Bake Off: The Professionals viewers have said the right team triumphed after Tanuj and Narayan won the 2024 series.
The duo — who are from the InterContinental London at The O2 — were crowned after wowing judges Cherish Finden and Benoit Blin with their skills in the nail-biting final of the series, which celebrated the best of British. They sailed through the rounds, finishing with a stunning showpiece that saw them recreate Tower Bridge in sugar and chocolate.
The chefs hugged as they were named the winners, with both saying it was a "dream come true" and exclaiming: "We did it!"
What, how and why?
The final episode of the Channel 4 show saw the remaining teams — Tanuj and Narayan, Gerol and Michael and Bharat and John — making afternoon teas and a British-themed banquet.
Tanuj and Narayan's tea included a chocolate brioche with caviar and scones with saffron and orange, which the judges loved. Blin said it was "one of the best looking" afternoon teas he had seen, telling them: "All in all, it looks really really fantastic."
They also earned praise for their Tower Bridge showpiece, with Finden saying: "Attention to detail is phenomenal, it sends a tingling sensation down my spine."
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As the judges announced that Tanuj and Narayan had won, Blin said: "I am delighted. They have been the most consistent team and the level of their work and spirit has been the greatest."
"They impressed me from day one... wow!" agreed Finden,
What did viewers say?
Fans also felt the right team took the 2024 title. "Well deserved winners," one person said on X. Another wrote: "Every year, the professionals hit out of the park... all 3 finalists were fantastic."
Another fan agreed: "Worthy winners. They've been brilliant through the whole series." Somebody else posted: "Deserved winners. Well done to all."
"Love it, love it, love it!!!" exclaimed someone else. "My winners from the beginning, many congratulations Tanuj and Narayan."
Others noted how tense the final was. The contestants all had to race to finish their bakes within the allocated time and at one point Michael dropped a tray containing delicate pastries.
"My nerves are as fragile as these show stopper finals with one minute to go!" wrote one viewer. "All 6 bakers are winners and really lovely people in this series of Bake Off: The Professionals."
"I can honestly think of few things I’m less suited to than high pressure highly skilled delicate chocolate work," said another.
"I have no patience, nor the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. And I’d eat the sweets."
Bake Off: The Professionals is streaming on Channel 4.
