Yahoo News The Great British Bake Off 2023: Who will be crowned the winning baker?
Dan, Josh and Matty are due to go bun to bun in an-all male final - who has the best chance of becoming the champion baker?
The Great British Bake Off is preparing to turn out its 14th winner.
The competition is stiff as meringue peaks this year, featuring contestants Dan, Matty and Josh, who have all been Star Baker twice in the series.
There is not a whiff of toxic masculinity around this all-male final, of soft-centred bakers who just want to serve up sweet treats to make viewers smile.
So who is most likely to walk away with the glistening crystal cake stand?
Grab a spoon as we delve into the sugar and spice and all things nice that make up this year's Bake Off finalists.
Dan Hunter
Dan is a 42-year-old civil engineering resource planner from Cheshire.
He was the first Star Baker of the series in Cake Week, and ever since then his fellow bakers have viewed him as one to watch.
And he was Star Baker again in Dessert Week with his striking blue meringue bomb and bookies placed him at odds of 12/1 to win the show from week one.
Dan has said he became interested in cooking after going on a trip to South America in 2007 and over the weeks he has experimented with some interesting flavours.
He said: "My strengths are my flavour combos. My weakness… overthinking bakes and doing too much!”
But his unusual flavours have not always been popular with judge Paul Hollywood, who was sceptical of his Thai Green Curry inspired creme caramel and unimpressed by his Chinese dumpling take on the classic sausage roll.
And even though Hollywood is known for his dislike of matcha flavouring, Dan pressed ahead with his matcha and yuzu financiers. But it paid off - as Dan earned his first Hollywood Handshake of the series for his perfect patisserie bakes.
Matty Edgell
Matty is a 28-year-old teacher from Cambridgeshire.
The smiley PE and science teacher is always being modest about his baking skills and jokes that he doesn't really know what he is doing.
But nevertheless he has made it all the way to the final and was Star Baker in Chocolate Week with his stylish chocolate box cake and in Party Week when he earned a Hollywood Handshake for his chilli sausage rolls.
Matty has confessed he watches online patisserie videos before bed and is planning to make his own wedding cake when he ties the know with fiancee Lara.
Asked what kind of party he'd be, Matty joked: “I would probably be a rough puff, it doesn’t require much patience to make!”
The bookmakers may have given him odds of 20/1. But don't be fooled - Matty has some secret ingredients up his sleeve making him the underdog in the competition.
Josh Smalley
Josh is a 27-year-old post-doctoral research associate of chemistry from Leicestershire.
His chemistry background made him the bookies favourite to win Bake Off this year from the start with odds of 9/4.
He said: “I remember being in the chemistry lab last thing on a Friday when I received the call confirming my place in the famous tent. I was in complete shock and had to sit down on a stool, just lost for words.
“So many emotions going through my head; excitement of the prospect of baking in the tent, buzzing."
Josh has confessed a fascination with old-fashioned baking books and so blends traditional methods with his modern style and chemical knowledge.
He has always had a framed photograph of his grandmother on his bench - his inspiration for entering the competition.
Josh said: "I have a sense of accomplishment that I had managed to make it through and do my Nan proud.
“She passed away in June 2021 and I said I would try and enter the Bake Off again for her.”
The twice Star Baker - in Patisserie and Botanical week - won a Hollywood Handshake in Week 2 for his Showstopper Biscuit illusion of a burger and fries.
Which of these nice guys will get the cherry on the top of their icing with a Bake Off winner title?
The proof will be in the pudding for Paul and Prue.
The Great British Bake Off final airs on Channel 4 on Tuesday at 8pm.
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