SPOILER ALERT: Look away now if you don’t want to know the result.
Greenwich firefighter Mat Riley turned up the heat on his fellow competitors in the Great British Bake Off kitchen by nabbing Star Baker.
In week six, the half way stage, the 37-year-old who works at East Greenwich station impressed with his range of pastries.
But it was the end of the road for Alvin, whose timing issues meant underbaked frangipane and vol-au-vents.
It didn’t start terribly well for Mat with his first round frangipane labelled ‘bland’ and failing to capture the judges’ imagination.
Star baker firefighter Mat 'slightly winded' by Mary 'Iron Mike' Berry. Can Mat win the next round #GBBO #TeamMat pic.twitter.com/xF9cyumUyS
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) September 9, 2015
But then he went on to win the technical round with a superb version of a cheese-filled Cypriot pastry that we’ve never heard of.
What a superb 'I just won the technical challenge' face #GBBO pic.twitter.com/2n39rF1S9Z
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 9, 2015
With victory within his grasp, he opted to make ‘his n hers’ vol-au-vents. The ‘his’ being mouth-watering English breakfast themed with a showstopping runny-yolked quail’s egg on top. And Mat couldn’t resist a little bit of customary Bake Off innuendo.
"Look how much it's shrunk. It's half the size as when it went in." - Mat Sounds pretty standard #BakeOffInnuendo #GBBO
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 9, 2015
And some more.
"Right, I'm going in with my finger," - Mat #BakeOffInnuendo #GBBO pic.twitter.com/SFpcD4pfYz
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 9, 2015
He needn’t have worried though because he nailed it.
Willing Mat to finish because I subconsciously think that maybe I can jump into the TV and have some of his full-English vol-au-vents. #gbbo
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) September 9, 2015
And then Berry nailed him.
The one with Mary's double uppercut congratulations. #BakeOffFriends #GBBO @BritishBakeOff pic.twitter.com/i6JI2iRQgR
— Laura Davis (@imLauraDavis) September 9, 2015
Congrats, Mat.
Well done Star Baker and #BakeOffInnuendo generator Mat! We’ll allow you a nibble of your pen now. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/KR81D0GKJk
— BBC One (@BBCOne) September 9, 2015
And we’re all delighted because everyone loves Mat.
You can tell by the reaction that everyone likes Mat. #gbbo #bodylanguage
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) September 9, 2015
Even if a some people (including Blackheath’s Bake Off winner John Whaite) think he’s a bit like Neil from the Inbetweeners.
By the way fact fans, Blake Harrison, who played Neil, is from Greenwich. It’s a sarf east London love-in.
Brilliant, Neil. I mean, Mat. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/KKGn3JuUjC
— John Whaite (@JohnWhaiteBakes) September 9, 2015
Or maybe he’s more like a different Kent comedian?
Well done Joe Wilkinson! #mat #GBBO
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) September 9, 2015
Mat may have been chuffed with his victory but, ever the gentleman, he saved the last word for his eliminated co-baker Alvin.
Thanks for all the baking love tonight, absolutely chuffed to get star baker, but so sad to see my mate @alvinmagallanes leave the tent.
— Mat Riley (@matrileybakes) September 9, 2015
And remember, be safe.
YES! Celebrate by testing your smoke alarms! Mat has won #GBBO star baker. Thanks for all your #TeamMat support pic.twitter.com/2AXRa3MoUt
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) September 9, 2015
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