10 hours Ago By BBC
The winner of this year's Junior Bake Off has said he would be watching the show's finale "over and over again" after claiming victory in the contest. Austin, 11, from Emmer Green, Reading, was crowned the series champion last month after winning over judges Ravneet Gill and Liam Charles. His final showstopper "My Best Ever Birthday Party" featured himself on the top of an adapted Victoria sponge.
He beat 15 other contestants, including fellow finalist Deji, also from Reading. Speaking to BBC South, Austin said he felt his musical-themed showstopper clinched the win. "I really enjoyed baking it, actually," he said.
"It was quite fun." His final effort reflected his love of theatre and featured a mini-Austin on top of a chocolate sponge filled with orange buttercream. It was described by the judges as "beautiful", "10 out of 10" and "top-tier".
His mum, Georgina, who attended the final, said Austin's victory came as a huge surprise. "I remember looking at my mum, my husband and my daughter..
. and it was just something else," she said. "He put himself out there, he did it.
.. I was just so proud of him.
" Austin described the filming process as "intense" because of the number of cameras pointing at him. "The corridor in between the benches is just full of cameras..
. and you just don't imagine that when you're actually watching it," he added. Asked how he stayed focussed, he said: "I managed to try and keep to myself and not try and look at the cameras.
"I did think when [presenter] Harry Hill came up...
'just make it quick!'." Applications are now open for the next series of the show. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook , X , or Instagram .
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