“Now it can come out and take pride of place in our living room”.
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Her first bake – almond and cardamom, and nutmeg and sour cherry ice buns – receives praises all around.
Nadiya said: “I get on really well with the contestants”.
She said life had changed since the show and a few of the new bakers had been in touch. “But the standard is now so high that the producers have to put things in that people are not familiar with, so I can see both sides of the argument”.
Birtwhistle, who won at the age of 60 – the oldest victor so far, has been writing about this year’s Bake Off for the Daily Telegraph.
The rest of the permanent cast is comprised of hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, who provide much needed comic relief in the tense tent.
Tonight, viewers will see the culmination of nine weeks of delicious bakes and culinary disasters when Nadiya, Ian Cumming, and Tamal Ray go head to head in this year’s showdown.
For her final challenge she created the wedding cake she missed out on at her own wedding in Bangladesh, which she decorated in a red, white and blue sari, the colours of the Union Jack.
The technical challenge was raspberry mille feuille – chosen because all three finalists had previously struggled with pastry!
She said: “At the very end of the filming I took the cake out to my family’s table and we all had a slice. I’m going to do the best showstopper I can, but I don’t think I’m going to – I don’t think it’s going to be -” before becoming overwhelmed with emotion.
All while huffing and puffing and pulling really sad faces. Later I was asked how I was feeling in an interview, but I felt I didn’t have the vocabulary, it was all a bit of a fog.
Earlier this year she actually hit out at the Great British Bake Off claiming that the series needed to go “back to basics”.
“Mary and Paul hugged me and Mary told me I deserved to win, and that made me cry again”.
Her chocolate tart also earned her a congratulatory handshake from judge Paul Hollywood in the semi-final.
We always knew there was something of the Prince Charles about Ian – but instead of whispering to his plants to encourage them to grow, Ian whispers to his buns to help them rise.
Hussain’s emotional win also wrung tears from the female judge’s eyes – something that has never happened on the show.
Meanwhile, Nadiya has revealed she had to become a “compulsive liar” to keep her big moment a secret since June.
So now there are just three – who have three more challenges ahead of them in tonight’s final.
“My wife is basking in my reflected glory, and has been enjoying every minute of it”, he said.
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Paul Hollywood added: “All three Bakers pushed the boat out for the final, but it’s all about keeping calm and being consistent throughout”.
