Welsh wonder baker Georgie Brasso talks about how she won the Great British Bake Off final and where she has put the trophy at home

Welsh wonder Georgie Brasso triumphed in the Great British Bake Off final and admitted overcoming self doubt through the series to win. The Paediatric nurse, 34, from Carmarthenshire rose to the top up against Christaan De Vries and Dylan Bachelet in the final.

On screen, she said: “This is mad! I have won it, I can’t believe it. This is just incredible. I can’t believe that I have won The Great British Bake Off. It just means everything, I have always been so self doubtful. I have got this and that wrong with me and think I can’t do it, and you make excuses. For once I thought I am just going to go for it and put my everything into it. I am just so proud of myself because I have proved I can do it, and now I am here today the Winner!”

For the signature, the bakers had to wow the judges with their flavours and techniques by creating delicate scones. In their last technical challenge, Prue set the bar high, asking for a spread fit for a quintessential afternoon tea. And finally, for the showstopper, the three Baker finalists had to create a breathtaking, hanging tiered celebration cake suitable as the centerpiece for a summer garden party. Judge Prue Leith described her final bakes as “classic British baking beautifully done” whist Paul Hollywood added: “That’s a very special cake full of flavour and full of life. The Welsh Wonder, Georgie smashed it out of the park.”

In an interview after filming the final finished, Georgie admitted she wasn’t overconfident she could win after faltering midway through the final. She said: “I am the first Welsh winner on The Great British Bake Off! Oh my gosh being the first Welsh baker in the final was a massive achievement in itself. So to have won it is just the best feeling in the world. There were times in the series I thought I might be going home. The fact that I did it for Wales was amazing, and I had massive support throughout from Wales. I hope I have done them proud. “When I didn’t win the Technical I started to doubt myself and I texted home to say don’t get your hopes up but thankfully it all worked out well.

The three finalists on the Great British Bake Off ( 
Image:
Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon)

“When I heard I had won it felt so surreal and I couldn’t quite believe it. All my family were there watching me and it was a very emotional moment as Noel announced the win and handed me the trophy and flowers. My legs went to jelly and at the same time my daughter came to hug me, and of course it completely floored both of us, it was very funny and we were all laughing. So a lot of happy emotion was flying around.”

Poignantly she added: “My necklace with my stillborn daughter’s imprints of her hands and feet broke in Week 2, and I was heartbroken too. The production team managed to mend it and it was my good luck charm when I wore it at the Final.

“The production team look after you like royalty and you end up working very close with them.

“‘Overall what I learned from the show was to really be myself, I don’t need to pretend or mask who I am anymore. and to trust and believe in myself. ‘I have learned that I can do anything I set my mind to, and there are so many genuine people in the world who want the best for you – work hard and it will pay off.”

The three finalists on the Great British Bake Off ( 
Image:
Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon)

“When I heard I had won it felt so surreal and I couldn’t quite believe it. All my family were there watching me and it was a very emotional moment as Noel announced the win and handed me the trophy and flowers. My legs went to jelly and at the same time my daughter came to hug me, and of course it completely floored both of us, it was very funny and we were all laughing. So a lot of happy emotion was flying around.”

Poignantly she added: “My necklace with my stillborn daughter’s imprints of her hands and feet broke in Week 2, and I was heartbroken too. The production team managed to mend it and it was my good luck charm when I wore it at the Final.

“The production team look after you like royalty and you end up working very close with them.

“‘Overall what I learned from the show was to really be myself, I don’t need to pretend or mask who I am anymore. and to trust and believe in myself. ‘I have learned that I can do anything I set my mind to, and there are so many genuine people in the world who want the best for you – work hard and it will pay off.”

Georgie with the Bake Off class of 2024 ( 
Image:
PA)
Looking back on her whole time on the show she said: “My worst time was week 2, I felt so overwhelmed and self doubtful. My daughter’s necklace broke and I told myself it was a sign that I should go home and wasn’t good enough. The best moment was when Paul said ‘yes Georgie’ to my lemon entremet, it was the best feeling ever. The other best moment was Prue saying one of my recipes should be the way everyone makes tiramisu.”

Georgie has had the trophy stored away since the Summer but it will now get pride of place in the kitchen.

She said: “The trophy is hidden under a dress in my bedroom to keep it away from the kids, but it will get centre stage in the kitchen so everyone can see it. The kitchen is a focal point of the house filled with shelves of pottery and we overlook the valley and the sea from my kitchen.

It’s a farmhouse with duck, chickens (including Fanny) and the two dogs, I am so lucky to have such a secluded idyllic lifestyle, it’s very peaceful and tranquil.

Georgie Brasso has won series 15 of the Great British Bake Off ( 
Image:
Channel 4 / Mark Bourdillon)

“I would like to thank my husband and the kids for putting up with me not being around so much, and my family who helped look after the kids. It was incredible to have such a good support system. My kids have loved watching it and I know they will be ecstatic when they see the Final.”

Georgie has previously spoken openly about struggling “for a very long time with ADHD, PTSD, post-natal depression over the years” and said winning hopefully sent out a positive message. She said: “I hope that anyone with mental health issues will see this show, and see you can conquer your fears, keep positive – set a goal and your dreams can come true. I definitely want to continue talking about mental health, I would love to bring out a cookbook to show that you can bake through your problems. This is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I am enjoying every single happy moment of it.”