They have made enormous profiterole towers. Five million exotically flavoured macarons. Croissants made from almost 100% pure butter. And tonight, finally, the Great British Bake Off reaches its final as Jo, Holly and Mary-Anne do battle with millefeuilles and tiny cheesecakes to bake a street party for family and friends. I can hardly wait.
I must admit to being slightly sad that Janet will not be among the final three. Not because she is a better baker than the other women, but because I'll miss her dry, self-deprecating asides as the contestants whip up their mini Victoria sponges and meringue nests. Janet embodied what has made Bake Off such enthralling TV: the contestants. They haven't been on ludicrous emotional journeys. They haven't been styled, unless a pinny and a red face are the looks du jour. They just seem like normal people who want to succeed in something they're good at; better, perhaps, than they know.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry are obviously important to the programme's success. But they are also smart enough to realise that they're not more important than the competitors – which is rather a relief after John and Gregg's "COOKING DOESN'T GET TAFFA THAN THIS" school of judging. Hollywood, the old silver fox, already has something of a fan club, and I like the way he has single-handedly popularised the term "good bake". (Come on, who hasn't started pretending they are a cake expert since Bake Off?) But it's Mary I've fallen for. She is the perfect expert: extremely knowledgeable, strict about standards, always encouraging. Together they make a fierce but quite brilliant judging partnership.
I'm not sure fierce is the right word to use about Mel and Sue, who paint themselves as highly-trained cake Hoovers rather than interrogative presenters. They have been a joy this series – I particularly enjoyed Mel's reference to Mary Berry being dressed "as a cowgirl" and Sue's rallying call of "team oestrogen!", thus bringing the contestants out of themselves and reinforcing the supportive, funny and warm ethos that has made Bake Off such essential viewing.
But the time has come to make a decision. Holly, Jo and Mary-Anne are all undoubtedly brilliant bakers. I think we'd all probably like to move in with them and sit expectantly next to their ovens wearing elasticated trousers. But there can be only one winner. My choice would be Mary-Anne because she invents some genuinely interesting – and at times bonkers – flavour combinations, and adds a little drama to proceedings with her high risk approach. She's probably not the best technical baker and her work rarely looks quite as beautiful as Jo or Holly's. It is, however, the stuff I'd most like to eat.
But what about you? Let us know who you'd most like to waltz off with the prize tonight. Vote below, and then leave your comments – remembering, please, that we're talking about real-life, talented people.
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