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'The Great British Bake Off' reveals overnight viewing figures for 2021 final

The Great British Bake Off crowned its 2021 winner last night. (Channel 4)
The Great British Bake Off crowned its 2021 winner last night. (Channel 4)

The Great British Bake Off crowned its winner for 2021 in last night's fierce final which was watched by an average of 6.9 million viewers according to Channel 4 figures.

Viewers tuned in on Tuesday night to watch Giuseppe, Chigs and Crystelle fight for the title over three challenges and become the winner of the 12th series of the amateur baking show.

Snagging the title, in the end, was Giuseppe Dell'Anno, 45-year-old chief engineer from Bristol who became the first Italian to take home the top prize.

“There are no words, I am speechless for once," he explained.

Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith judged the competition with Noel Feilding and Matt Lucas presenting. (Channel 4)
Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith judged the competition with Noel Feilding and Matt Lucas presenting. (Channel 4)

According to Channel 4, the final episode had a peak audience of 8 million and garnered a 37.2% share of the total viewing audience, though it did not have to compete with I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! which purposely moved forward its start time.

However, the Bake Off final did see a decrease in viewership compared to last year's final, which attracted a record 9.2 million viewers. The 2020 series though was more popular in general, with the broadcaster citing lockdown as one of the reasons.

Compared to 2019, this year's edition performed adequately, bringing in the same amount of viewers during the last episode.

This year's Bake Off final performed worse than last year's. (Channel 4)
This year's Bake Off final performed worse than last year's. (Channel 4)

Viewers saw Giuseppe take the crown despite coming in last in the final technical challenge and experiencing issues with his oven in the showstopper challenge.

Both Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood said the final was the closest yet, as each contestant had received two coveted “Hollywood handshakes” and two Star Baker awards during the series' ten episodes.

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The episode saw the trio tasked with making exquisite carrot cakes, Belgian buns, and a showstopper dessert inspired by the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Alice In Wonderland.

While Chigs sailed through the challenge without any huge wins or big mistakes, Crystelle looked on track to bring home the title as she got first place in the technical challenge, but when she presented a completely raw focaccia as part of the showstopper, the judges had to reevaluate her performance.

Giuseppe Dell'Anno brought home the crown. (Channel 4)
Giuseppe Dell'Anno brought home the crown. (Channel 4)

Speaking the morning after his win, Giuseppe said his performance on the show had prompted an emotional response from his usually stoic father.

He told Times Radio: “There is a message that some family friends collected without me knowing, that was shown to me while we were recording, that you have seen yesterday during the show, from my dad.

“That is not like him. My dad is very much the strong and silent (type), the archetypal Italian father. He doesn’t speak much.

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“So the fact itself that he got himself to say those lovely things for the camera means that it must have had an effect on him.

“He’s always been talking in a way – in inverted commas – to my sister and myself through his bakes. And I’ve only realised later in life that that was his way of showing us his love and affection.”

Watch: Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith decide who is more intimidating