The Great British Bake Off finale on Tuesday drew an average audience of 6.9 million viewers, Channel 4 said.
The broadcaster said the finale had a peak audience of eight million viewers and a 37.2% share of the total TV audience.
Last year, Bake Off enjoyed its most-watched finale on Channel 4, attracting a record average audience of 9.2 million viewers, after viewership figures generally increased during the lockdown.
However, the numbers match those of the 2019 final, which was also watched by an average of 6.9 million people.
Viewers tuned in to Giuseppe Dell’Anno, 45, triumph over fellow contestants Crystelle Pereira, 26, and Chigs Parmar, 40, arguably the show’s closest finale.
The chief engineer, who now lives in Bristol, became the first Italian winner after impressing judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith with his consistency and professionalism throughout the competition.
Speaking the morning after his victory, Giuseppe said his performance on the show elicited an emotional response from his usually stoic father.
Giuseppe Dell’Anno (center photo), 45, triumphed over fellow contestants Crystelle Pereira, 26, and Chigs Parmar, 40, arguably the closest final on the Channel 4 show tonight.
Giuseppe said he was speechless after being announced as winner of this year’s Great British Bake Off
Bake Off winner wowed the judges with his Mad Hatter’s Tea Party showtopper (pictured)
He told Times Radio: “There is a message that family friends collected without my knowledge, which was shown to me while we were recording, which you saw yesterday on the show, from my father.
‘It’s not like him. My father is very strong and silent (type), the archetype of the Italian father. He does not speak a lot.
“So the very fact that he was being told these beautiful things for the camera means it must have had an effect on him.
“He always spoke a certain way – in quotes – to my sister and to myself through his pastries. And I didn’t realize until later in life that this was his way of showing us his love and affection.
Giuseppe was impressed with the spectacle of his Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – which used both sweet and savory treats, while featuring a minimum of four cooking disciplines.
The home baker opted for a giant brioche mushroom to tear and share, with mango and passion fruit panna cotta, heart-shaped orange and fig muffins, and a stuffed cabbage caterpillar. with asparagus and peas.
He faced a major setback after discovering that his oven had not been properly closed and not preheated.
The chief engineer, who now lives in Bristol, became the first Italian winner after impressing judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith (pictured together) with his consistency and professionalism throughout the competition.
But despite this and its complicated design, his efforts were well received, with the panna cotta described as “superb” by Paul and “happiness” by Prue.
“This is the most perfect texture for a panna cotta … I take it with me,” added Prue, who took an extra serving.
After being crowned the winner, Giuseppe, who is fluent in English, French and Italian, said: “I think it has been a great year for Italy.
“I really can’t believe it or understand it, it made me incredibly happy to be British. Dell’Anno is my last name which translates to ‘of the year’ in English – and I think that has definitely been my year. ‘
Giuseppe, who is married and has three young sons, was inspired by his father (pictured left), who was a professional chef in Milan, where he grew up
Giuseppe added: “All I can think of is the reaction of my mom and dad (pictured). The point is that all I’ve done to deserve this comes from his legacy, that is is the best thank you note I can possibly send to him.
Giuseppe, who took inspiration from his father, a professional chef, said all he did was a thank you note for him.
Giuseppe, married and father of three young sons, was inspired by his father, who was a professional cook in Milan, where he grew up.
He added: “All I can think of is the reaction of my mom and dad. The point is that all I’ve done to deserve this comes from his inheritance, that’s the top grade. of thanks that I could possibly send to him.
“He’s going through a really bad time in terms of health, so I think it’s going to be a big boost. I don’t often or lightly say I’m proud of what I do, but in this case, I’m really proud of what I’ve done. It’s incredible!’
Giuseppe (pictured, with Noel) admitted he wasn’t often proud of himself, but was stunned by his achievement
Dame Prue described Giuseppe as a “handsome classic baker” who represents a long tradition of classic Italian pastry making.
Impressed with Giuseppe’s show, Paul said: “I think it’s simple and effective. It’s quite simple … It’s very Italian in its flavor quite oddly, I like it. ‘
Prue added: ‘Delicious… My God, that [part]it’s quite complicated… I take it with me, absolutely delicious. ‘
The competition was tighter than ever, with the three finalists each being named a two-time Star Baker and given two Hollywood handshakes before the final.
Giuseppe wowed the judges with his showtopper, which featured various parts to make it a pastry masterpiece (pictured)
However, Paul, 55, claimed to have spotted the winner in week one.
He said: “The first time I walked into the tent and the first signing I saw his mini rollers, I thought it looked like our winner, you could see the heart and soul enter its cooking. He did an amazing job!
Dame Prue added: “He is such a classic and magnificent baker and he represents a long tradition of classic Italian pastry making; he did it brilliantly to the end.
The Italians’ victory comes after Italy won the Euro in July after beating England, and after triumphing in the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
The highlight of Dell’Anno’s show included a giant brioche mushroom to tear and share, with mango and passionfruit panna cotta
Dell’Anno was visibly moved when he was congratulated on his victory by fellow contestants Crystelle and Chigs
The final crowning glory of Bake Off was watched by the show’s crew, who formed a “bubble” at the Down Hall Hotel near Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, throughout filming.
Giuseppe said he would like to “crystallize the legacy of my father and my family” in an Italian pastry cookbook that draws inspiration from his family and their love for pastry.
“It runs in our blood,” he said. “It would be nice to know that there would be a cookbook for the posterity of the Dell’Anno family.”
Bake Off has extended its license with Channel 4 and Love Productions for an additional three years until 2024.
Chigs Parmar, Giuseppe Dell’Anno and Crystelle Pereira compete to be crowned winner of the 12th Round of the Amateur Pastry Competition on Channel 4
