Giuseppe Dell’Anno from Saltford has been crowned the winner of Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off.
The 45-year-old engineer, who hails from Italy and is married with three young sons, took the coveted cake stand trophy in the final of Series 12 of the hit show which was screened last night.
Giuseppe, who was inspired to bake by his professional chef father, was chief engineer at the National Composites Centre at the Bristol & Bath Science Park at Emersons Green from 2017 until July of this year. He was also an Industrial Fellow at the University of Bristol.
He now works in Milan but was back in Bristol last night to watch his win at The Gloucester Old Spot pub on Kellaway Avenue with friends and family.
Millions watched last night as Giuseppe impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith enough to beat the two other finalists Crystelle Pereira and Chigs Parmar.
The episode saw the trio making carrot cakes, Belgian buns, and a showstopper dessert inspired by the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Alice In Wonderland for which Giuseppe opted for a giant tear-and-share brioche mushroom, with mango and passionfruit ‘Drink me’ panna cottas, heart-shaped orange and fig muffins, and an asparagus and pea-filled choux caterpillar.
Paul Hollywood said he had predicted Giuseppe would win:” The first time I walked into the tent and in the first signature I saw his mini rolls, I thought that looks like our winner,” he said. “You could see the heart and soul going into his baking. He has done an incredible job.”
Dame Prue called Giuseppe a “classic, beautiful baker”.
After being handed the title, Giuseppe said: “All I can think of is the reaction I am going to get from my mum and dad.”
He also said none of it would have been possible without the support of his wife Laura, who looked after their sons aged four, six and eight all summer without him.
He also thanked his fellow bakers and the team as well as the public “for reaching out and showering me with love! I will be forever grateful!”
Giuseppe is now hoping to bring out a cookbook: “I would love to crystallise my dad and family’s heritage in a cookery book of Italian baking that would draw from my family and their love for baking. It runs through our blood.”
Among those offering their congratulations are Saltford councillor Duncan Hounsell tweeted: “Saltford is very proud of you and your family. Well done Giuseppe.”
West of England Mayor Dan Norris also took to social media, saying: “It’s official: West of England has best engineers & best bakers! He’s always been my Star Baker but winning really is icing on cake.”
And Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said: “The first Bristol baker to make it to a Great British Bake Off final – and he’s only gone and won it! Congratulations Giuseppe, you’ve done our city proud!”
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