The Final of The Great British Bake Off is fast approaching, and we can hardly wheat! As Kim-Joy pointed out in the Semi Final, this is the most closely-matched trio of GBBO finalists the show has ever seen, with all three having won Star Baker twice. It’s hard not to fall in loaf with all three bakers, so ahead of the final, we wanted to recap on each of their journeys to the top.
Kim-Joy likes to put a little of herself into her bakes. Born in Belgium to an English father and Malaysian–Chinese mother, mental health specialist Kim-Joy reflects her mixed heritage by drawing inspiration for her bakes from all over the world. She’s even taught Paul a thing or two, introducing him to a new bread-making technique (!) and the somewhat divisive flavour of pandan.
Given her passion for unusual flavours, it was no surprise when Kim-Joy won Star Baker during Spice Week. Her signature stem ginger cake topped with poached pears and, adorably, a mini gingerbread house, earned Kim-Joy a Hollywood Handshake. But it was her Showstopper that really blew the judges away. Kim-Joy rose to the – frankly gigantic – challenge of baking a biscuit chandelier, creating an exquisitely festive centrepiece out of nutmeg and cinnamon biscuits.
She won Star Baker for a second time in Vegan Week, with her lavender and lemon fox-themed birthday cake and faux-mascarpone ‘Bake Off Squirrel’ tartlets complete with nuts. Despite saying she’s not particularly “an animal person”, Kim-Joy has become best known for these crittery creations. Highlights include her rabbit madeleines, a ‘Just Miaowied’ wedding loaf covered in cats, and choux pastry space turtles carrying paper umbrellas in a galaxy-themed melting chocolate ball.
With exotic flavours, meticulous attention to detail and the ability to bounce back from a wobble, is there anything Kim-Joy can’t do? To top it off, it turns out Kim-Joy’s birthday falls on World Baking Day – a sure sign that she was destined to bake.
To see whether Kim-Joy, Rahul or Ruby will be crowned this year’s winner of The Great British Bake Off, tune in to the final on Tuesday 30th of October at 8pm on Channel 4.