Warning: This article contains spoilers for the 2024 Great British Baking Show finale. Also, copious amounts of sugar, drama, and a pinch of Welsh pride.
After weeks of soggy bottoms, Paul Hollywood death stares, and questionable puns from Noel Fielding, the Great British Baking Show crowned its 2024 champion: Georgie Grasso, the 34-year-old Welsh wonder who can apparently bake cakes that literally defy gravity.
Yes, Wales finally got its Cinderella moment in the tent! For the first time in 15 seasons, the cake stand trophy is heading to Carmarthenshire. Georgie managed to out-bake her rivals, Dylan Bachelet (the artist formerly known as “that guy who sweats too much during proofing”) and Christiaan de Vries (whose name screams “euro-chic,” but whose pastry sometimes screamed “oops”).
How Georgie Wowed the Judges
Let’s get down to brass tacks—or, in this case, lemon and elderflower tiers. The final showdown consisted of three daunting challenges:
1. Signature Bake: Classic British scones, aka the moment Paul Hollywood’s eyebrow does more judging than his mouth.
2. Technical Challenge: An afternoon tea spread. Because, of course, nothing says “relaxing tea time” like having a crew of cameras shoved in your face.
3. Showstopper: A hanging, tiered cake. Yes, “hanging” as in defying physics, which feels excessive for a baking show, but here we are.
Georgie’s pièce de résistance? A lemon and elderflower cake with strawberry and champagne confit that somehow didn’t collapse like every Jenga tower I’ve ever built.
The “Grasso Effect”
When hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding announced Georgie as the winner, her reaction was pure disbelief. “This is mad! I have won it, I can’t believe it,” she said, while clutching the trophy like it was a Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s factory.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith were all praise (for once).
– Prue: “Georgie did what she does best—classic British baking, beautifully done.” Translation: She didn’t give us raw dough.
– Paul: “That’s a very special cake. The Welsh Wonder smashed it out of the park.” Translation: She’s getting the handshake next time.
Not All Fairy Tales Are Frosted
Behind every perfect sponge lies a sacrifice. Georgie confessed she juggled the competition with her job as a pediatric nurse, all while being a mom. “Working all hours, I sacrificed time with the kids. But I’ve proved I can do it.” (Cue inspirational montage music.)
The tent may be closed for now, but Georgie’s heart remains full. “I am already feeling sad that I’m not coming back here and not seeing everyone…. This is the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said, before likely being swept away by a wave of emotional bakers and crew members wielding spatulas.
Georgie’s Post-Win Message: Frosting Flavored with Feels
In an Instagram post that probably made half of Wales cry, Georgie opened up about overcoming her ADHD and struggles with mental health. “To those of you who are neurodivergent, who have self-doubt, who struggle with mental health—I want to say this: Your differences make you powerful. Believe in yourself!”
Georgie also threw a virtual group hug to her fellow contestants (“I absolutely adore you all!”), the judges, the hosts, and the crew. Paul Hollywood probably blushed, but we’ll never know.
Where to Watch the Magic
If you’re itching to see the drama, laughter, and perhaps a few baking disasters (RIP, Dylan’s collapsed mousse tower), the 2024 season of The Great British Baking Show is now streaming on Netflix. Grab your tea, your biscuits, and maybe a tissue for Georgie’s heartwarming moments.
Georgie Grasso: Proving that baking isn’t just about cakes—it’s about rising, just like your perfectly proofed dough.
