A FORMER Great British Bake-Off contestant who works at a Bradford district school has given her verdict on tonight's final.

Sandy Docherty, the child protection and welfare officer at Titus Salt School in Baildon, took part in the 2015 edition of the popular baking show.

Ahead of tonight's final on Channel Four, she has given her verdict on the show for her weekly Telegraph & Argus column over the past nine weeks.

Laura, Dave and Peter have made their way to the showcase, as they now look to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood during tonight's three tough challenges.

 

Sandy has predicted Dave to win the final, but says the standard of this year's competition has been high and would not be surprised if any of the final three took the prestigious title.

The start of the series was delayed this year due to the pandemic and comedian Matt Lucas replaced Sandi Toksvig as a co-presenter alongside Noel Fielding.

She said: "Dave looks the most surprised that he has made it this far.

"Laura has reached the final. She's a good baker, but has reached the final by the skin of her teeth. She really needs to be on her game in the final. But she is in with a shout.

"Peter had the final in his mind from week one.

"The two boys are incredibly technical and bake from their heads, but Laura bakes from her heart.

"I think they all have the potential to win.

If Dave can work with his heart as well as his head, he can win

"It all has to go well for Peter to win it. It depends on the challenges that they get for the final."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sandy Docherty, inset, has given here verdict on this year's Great British Bake-Off contestants Sandy Docherty, inset, has given here verdict on this year's Great British Bake-Off contestants

Meanwhile, Sandy has given her verdict on the last nine weeks of the competition which has included themed weeks on the 1980s, Japanese baking and Patisserie.

"We have been watching incredibly professional amateurs in this series. I like the amateur amateurs.

"I don't think this year's bakers are chasing celebrity. They are chasing being the Bake Off winner. It's a bit more authentic this year. We have had a good, authentic show this year.

"There has been a good core section of ordinary people. Keep it ordinary.

It's the extraordinary of the ordinary that makes Bake Off great. It is a show without conflict; ordinary people working on challenges together

"It's just good, family watching."

In 2015 Sandy had the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of millions of viewers when, out of 16,000 applications, she was successfully selected for the Bake Off series.

Viewers soon warmed to Sandy’s down-earth style during her four week stint on the show. She’d hoped to go further but bread week proved to be her nemesis.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jamie Frost has made mini sculptures inspired by the show Jamie Frost has made mini sculptures inspired by the show

Meanwhile, an artist has created a set of mini sculptures inspired by the Great British Bake Off that look good enough to eat.

Jamie Frost, 43, made the sculptures, which measure four to five inches high, from walnut, birch, elm, alongside plastic and foam.

They are made to look like cakes, inspired by the world of artisan bakery, and each one looks mouth-wateringly close to the real thing.

Jamie, a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors from Holmfirth, Yorks., said that the series named Patisserie, would make a "delicious" addition to any art collection.

He said: "There’s something very sculptural about this subject already, so the challenge was to make something that reminds the viewer of patisserie without trying to be a specific type of cake.

“I’ve spent a lot of time making and exhibiting figurative sculpture in the last few years. The content of these is fairly dark and emotive.”

Read Sandy's thoughts on tonight's Bake Off final tomorrow morning on telegraphandargus.co.uk