Alright, pull up a chair and grab a scone — we're about to relive one of the most memorable finales in Bake Off history. Season 7 of The Great British Bake Off aired in 2016, the year the show also made headlines for swapping the BBC for Channel 4. But let's talk about the real star: the winner.
That winner was none other than Candice Brown, a physical education teacher from Charlton, London. Yes, the person who made us all weep over brownies once worked as a PE teacher. Imagine showing up to school and discovering your gym teacher is secretly a baking sorceress — pretty wild, right?
How Candice Got There
Candice wasn't exactly the quiet type from day one — she brought a sassy confidence and trademark red lips to the tent. She waltzed through the early rounds with her sophisticated British classics and cheeky flair. Judges Paul and Mary (with Paul Hollywood doing that intense side-eye we all know and love) were smitten pretty early on.
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Now here's a fun fact: Candice was the first-ever teacher to win the competition. Meanwhile, several of her competitors seemed convinced the tent would explode before they figured out a play-dough challenge. But Candice stayed cool, calm, and outrageous with her fondant reputations.
Sectional cakes Dusty rise, caramel errors faded, and she composed multi-layered centrepieces like nobody's business. If you watched episode after episode, you could practically see the crown materialising above her reluctant eyebrows.
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The Iconic Final
In that glorious final, Candice whipped up a show-stopping three-course meal suited for royalty. One of the killer highlights: a glimmering drip-like showpiece chocolate cake covered in gold leaf. Paul Hollywood's eyes went so wide I think they briefly left his face.
She also served a wildly technical lemon tart and layered British pavlova that had soul. Candice didn't just win — she won with drama, flair, and frosting that would make a professional baker clutch their mixer in jealous shock.
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The confetti fell, Paul shook her hand, Candice ugly-cried (who wouldn't), and a 4,000-candidate national obsession crowned her champion. Her victory created a near-breakdown in social media outrage because half of Britain expected Jane to win it instead.
What Happened After?
Candice launched a baking empire and authored books like Baking with Lorraine. Readied for an IRL bake-off then her husband Steven Edwards proposed with a cake-topper engagement ring. Talk about going all-in on the baking theme — no wasted cake toppings in this household.
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However, the duo's road wasn't frosted with pure sugar — they split in 2023, leaving fans of their intertwined baking dynasty feeling like someone had removed the jam from a jam tart. Candice has since gone rogue with successful ventures and very bold baking commentary on Instagram.
So there we have it — a Humble gym teacher rising through frosting fire, dodging oven melts, taking gold-leafed cake back to Charlton. Each time rewatch Season 7, you'll remember that Great British long white test-life Witt: never approach a caramel challenge without Photoshop and a thermometer scouting report. And as always, bless the tent.