For one last time, pour yourself a drink.
Your drinking words for this finale are perfect, perfectly, and perfection.
Our three finalists are in equal states of disbelief and fear.
Tamal is so excited, he wants to tell random members of the public about being in the final.
Nadiya really wants to win and feels strange about it.
And Ians been writing in his journal about how pivotal a moment this is.
Needless to say, nerves are at an all-time high.
For the bakers last Signature Challenge, theyre required to make 16 filled and iced buns.
And who can blame them?
According to Paul, An iced bun is a thing of beauty.
But that also means Theres nowhere to hide from the icing, to the bun, to the filling.
As the judges begin to circle the workstations, Paul keeps throwing around the word perfect.
Heres how the would-be winners hope to achieve that coveted perfection:
Tamalis making two types of buns.
Both will be topped with Royal icing.
Hes keeping the icing simple since his filling is so flavorful.
His elderflower buns will be filled with fresh lemon curd.
Nadiyais filling her cardamom round buns with almond creme patisserie and making nutmeg finger buns with sour-cream jam… Sour-cherryjam and cream is what she meant.
As they get to the baking, its clear Tamal and Nadiya have become good buddies over the weeks.
Tamal taunts Nadiya for going against the norm and making round buns in addition to the expected finger-shaped ones.
Its fine if you want to break the mold on Pauls favorite thing in the world, he says.
It works well for you when you break mold.
Remember that technical in week 1?
Yeah, coming in 12th was amazing, Nadiya responds dryly.
Ian thinks his buns look weird and are cooking much slower than expected.
Hes beginning to think hes left something out.
Its a major element to be missing.
As they complete the bake, no one seems pleased with where they finish.
Ians looks so messy and unappetizing, we dont even have to hear Mary say it.
He forgot to put sugar in his dough doh!
which means they dried out and became, in Pauls words, a crispy bap.
That, in turn, threw the flavor off.
Nadiyas are nice and neat with a good amount of jam.
They taste lovely, says Mary, and the little round ones are quite different.
All good compliments, but they seem a little like faint praise after Ians were just labeled heaven.
Both of those tick the boxes, says Paul.
Theyre neat, theyre full of flavor and theyre so different as well.
Tamals really do look like hot-dog buns or sandwiches.
He was let down once again by his old nemesis: timing.
Theyve all had pastry problems in the past, which is precisely why the judges picked it.
As things progress, Tamal feels like hes losing control of the task.
Tamal looks at hers and is even more upset with his own.
Your pastry looks so nice, he tells her.
I hate to say it, but his does look pretty bad.
Nadiyas is nice and crisp and neat, but the pastry feels like shortcrust, not rough puff.
(Do we all remember the difference fromweek 6?)
She comes in first.
Shes happy, but not smug.
Ianhas good layers, but the pastry isnt quite done and his piping is gap-y.
Good jam, though!
Tamals looks a mess and the pastry seems rushed.
He also shouldve used the sugar syrup to bond his icing to his pastry.
(Ah,thatswhat it was for!)
Hes last and knows he needs to nail the Showstopper.
Its about that time.
Get ready for the final Showstopper challenge of the season, ladies and gentlemen.
Theyve got to make whatever they do, perfectly, says Mary.
The judges will be comparing each slice out of each cake to confirm theyre consistent.
This is our bakers last chance, warns Mary, as thunder claps ominously overhead.
Its subtleBaking Showdrama at its best.
Tamalis putting yesterday behind him.
Ianis making five cakes.
His Colossal Curvy Carrot Cake (points for alliteration) will be displayed on a stand he built himself.
Hes also developed a unique decoration to bring all five of his cakes together: A giant carrot waterfall?
A cascading liquid carrot?
She and her husband got married in Bangladesh, so they didnt have a wedding cake.
This is her chance!
Remember last week, when the contestants had to make souffles and it was the most stressful thing ever?
This final Showstopper multiplies ups that level of tension by 17.
Ian full-on admits he has the fear.
He forgot to add the orange to the mixture.
Ians been awfully forgetful lately.
Maybe dont eat everything you forage in the forest, sir.
Its so weird being back for Flora hasnt it been just one week?
How do you think Stu is feeling?
The most recent bakers to depart are asked to predict the winner.
Theres one vote each for Ian and Tamal, while Nadiya takes two.
With three minutes to go, the finalists add the last decorative flourishes and gather for a group hug.
Im going to do a you and cry, says Tamal, to either Nadiya or Ian.
It really could be either of them at this point.
Lets find out if hes done enough…
Its the last judgment.
Mary loves it the lemon comes through perfectly.
Sighs of relief all around.
Tamals looks spectacular, or as Mary puts it, breathtaking.
The web of caramel isreallycool.
Paul offers a this works and For once, you managed to do it on time.
Thats one (or five) of the best carrot cakes Ive ever had, Paul tells him.
It is a different carrot cake, says Mary, but she loves it, too.
Spot on, Ian.
Sitting around picnic benches adorned with wild flowers, the contestants and their families munch on the Showstopper cakes.
Soon, Paul and Mary appear to deliver their final verdict.
The bakers gather for a second group hug and hold their breath.
Drumroll, kindly (not really, just the sound of birds chirping in the background)…
The winner of season 3 ofThe Great British Baking Showis:Nadiya!
Mary presents Nadiya with the cake-stand trophy and wipes tears from the winners cheeks.
(Im not crying, youre crying.)
Can you even imagine?
Tamals all teary, too.
Shell never shut up about it.
In her winners interview, Nadiya is literally speechless.
She just points at herself, like, What, me?
When she finds her words, theyre empowering, to say the least.
Im never ever going to put boundaries on myself ever again, she says.
Im never going to say I cant do it.
Im never going to say maybe.
Im never going to say I dont think I can.
I can and I will.
Thats it for season 3, folks!
Its been a sweet, surgery, and, at times, stressful journey.
Im off to find some carrot cake and a man who resembles Nadiyas husband.
