Great British Bake Off 2021 winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno brands series ‘draining adventure’

Giuseppe is this year’s Bake Off champion (Picture: Channel 4)

Great British Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno has called his time on the Channel 4 competition show a ‘draining adventure’.

The 45-year-old amateur baker and chief engineer from Bristol became the first Italian to take home the top prize after last night’s final episode, beating Crystelle Pereira and Chigs Parmar.

Shortly after the last episode aired, Giuseppe shared a photo of him holding his award.

‘I could have never gone through this exhilarating, but also draining adventure without the support of my wife, my fellow bakers and the constant support of the production team!’ he penned.

‘Thank you all out there, for reaching out and showering me with love! I will be forever grateful!’

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

Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood said the final was the closest yet, with each contestant having received two coveted Hollywood handshakes and two star baker awards during the series.

Giuseppe took the crown despite coming last in the final technical challenge of the series and oven issues in the showstopper.

Viewers were in tears as he took home the accolade, telling the crowd: ‘There are no words, I am speechless for once. All I can think of is the reaction from my mum and dad.

‘The fact is that everything I have done to deserve this comes from (dad’s) heritage, it’s the best thank you note I can possibly send him.’

Prue noted the influence of Giuseppe’s heritage on his baking throughout the series.

‘He is such a classic, beautiful baker and he represents a long tradition of classic Italian baking. He has done it brilliantly all the way through,’ she said.

Giuseppe, Crystelle and Chigs competed in the finale (Picture: Channel 4)

‘I am going home to make much more Italian cakes because they really are good.’

The final showstopper challenge of 2021 tasked the finalists with creating a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party display using both sweet and savoury treats, and showcasing a minimum of four baking disciplines.

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.

More: The Great British Bake Off

He faced a major setback after discovering his oven had not been closed properly and not preheated.

But despite this and his complicated design, his efforts were well received, with the panna cotta described as ‘stunning’ by Paul, and ‘bliss’ by Prue.

Great British Bake Off is available to stream on All4.

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