Who won 'Bake Off' 2020: Paul Hollywood calls it 'closest to a draw it's ever been'
Watch: GBBO crowns its 2020 champion in close finale
The winner of The Great British Bake Off 2020 has been announced as Peter Sawkins in the closest final the contest has ever seen.
He is the youngest ever winner of the series at 20 years old, and the first ever Scottish winner of Bake Off.
Peter, Dave and Laura were this year’s finalists, but after Laura had a disaster in the first two rounds, it was a two-horse race between Peter and Dave to see who would be crowned the winner.
Read more: Bake Off’s Laura calls for kindness from viewers over show result
Ruling Laura out of the top spot as judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith went into their deliberations, Hollywood said: “This is as close to a draw than I've ever seen.”
The winner of The Great British Bake Off 2020 is… PETER! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/GHfGWyh1D8
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) November 24, 2020
What a lovely and emotional final episode - well done Peter! And well done to everyone involved this year #GBBOFinal #gbbo
— Rosie Brandreth-Poynter (@RosieBrandreth) November 24, 2020
The pair had been neck and neck with near-perfect custard slices in the signature bake, where Peter presented a cranachan-inspired slice and Dave’s was caramel latte flavoured.
Laura had made a yuzu custard slice which delivered on flavour, but refused to set, leaving her crying into the fridge at the end of the round.
Then, when Dave won the technical challenge to make eight walnut whips, Peter came second, and Laura was in last place, her fate was sealed as one of this year’s runners up.
Keep going, Laura. You’ve done so well to get this far. It’s all about the next bake. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/obhzvPe7bs
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) November 24, 2020
Presenter Noel Fielding’s pep talk to Laura about Bjorn Borg’s attitude of only looking forward and forgetting about previous failures was a hit with viewers - and one of last year’s contestants confirmed Fielding was a favourite with the bakers, too.
So, we’re all agreed, Noel should be put up for a sainthood? #GBBO #GBBOFinal
— Henry Bird (@henryfabird) November 24, 2020
Can @noelfielding11 follow me around cheering me up and saying "you've come back from worse" please? #GBBO
— ✨ Joanna ✨ (@Jsheff91) November 24, 2020
An inspired showstopper round tasked the bakers with making a tower of treats to represent their time on Bake Off, including some of their favourite creations as well as those they would have liked to improve on.
With all three bakers facing a nearly equal balance of successes and failures on their towers, it was too close to call who would be the winner as Hollywood and Leith began their difficult final judging task.
#GBBO has honestly been such a good distraction during this weird time - great way to switch off from work, COVID, rules and just relax. Always loved Peter and his win was so well deserved! Is it only me who finds themselves in floods of tears when they announce the winner tho?!
— Melissa R Gunn (@MRGMarketing) November 24, 2020
After hearing he’d won, Peter said: “I can’t quite believe that I’m here. I can’t quite believe that I made it on the show. I can’t quite believe the show happened.
“This is going to be a really huge chapter in my life, and what a way for it to end.”
How Peter became Bake Off’s youngest ever winner… #GBBO pic.twitter.com/p8svTC7Iu2
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) November 24, 2020
Prue Leith said: “I feel as if he’s my grandson, he’s such a nice guy.”
It’s been an extraordinary year on Bake Off, with contestants, stars and production crew made to form a bubble so that they could film the series in line with COVID restrictions.
University student Peter said: “Lots of people at uni have travelled the world, done amazing things, I feel sometimes I haven't experienced as much.
“But there are 100 people locked in here, we are the only 100 people who have experienced this.”
It might be a competition, but the bakers are really just one big family.
And we wouldn’t have it any other way 💖
(We’re not crying, you are)#GBBO pic.twitter.com/2iB9Q9ljiF— Channel 4 (@Channel4) November 24, 2020
That meant that many of the bakers had not seen their loved ones throughout the contest, and sadly things weren’t about to change at the finalists’ garden party.
Usually, the garden party is a celebration of the final three bakers with their friends, family, and former competitors watching as the winner is announced.
But this year, the crowd was entirely made up of production crew who had been in the show’s bubble for filming.
Crying already knowing that the baker’s families aren’t going to be there at the end of the show 😩💔 @BritishBakeOff #GBBO
— Ellen Sherman (@ellens1990) November 24, 2020
In all seriousness all that they done in order to give us The Bake Off this year with COVID-19 is massively appreciated. Massive THANK YOU!! #GBBO
— Emma 🏳️🌈 (@ERBQ1991) November 24, 2020
It was no less emotional for the finalists, though, despite the toned-down celebration.
Peter said: “I wanted this a lot.”
Admitting that he had watched series three, his favourite series which was won by John Whaite “eight or nine times”, he said: “I really am a Bake Off nerd.
“I think 12-year-old Peter would be in awe.”
I’m so emotional (surprise surprise). How beautiful was that ending!? I can’t believe it’s over. I feel so blessed & so incredibly proud of everyone who managed to make it happen. Huge congratulations Peter! Lottie and I clocked you as our winner from day one!!! #GBBOFinal #GBBO pic.twitter.com/ccKzr9Gv2J
— Laura Adlington (@LauraAdlington) November 24, 2020
Peter winning #GBBO is a victory for the quiet people who just plough on and work hard and get on with things and I AM SO HERE FOR IT 😍😍
— Catherine Wynn (@CatherineW0405) November 24, 2020
Bloody hell that ending was something else.
Brought a tear to a glass eye.#GBBO— Rob (@RobM_135) November 24, 2020
The series finished with an emotional look at what the bakers had been doing since the series ended, where we were introduced to Dave’s new baby son who was born in October.
It ended with a dedication to Luis Troyano, a former finalist who died earlier this year.
Watch: Horn of Plenty was the funniest challenge of Bake Off 2020