Rahul Mandal wins Channel 4 ‘Great British Bake Off’ series 2018
Indian research scientist Rahul Mandal, 30, has won the ninth series of the Channel 4 show ‘Great British Bake Off’ it was announced on Tuesday 30th October 2018. Rahul was up against mental health specialist Kim-Joy Hewlett and Project manage Ruby Bhogal. For series 9, established judge Paul Hollywood was joined by food connoisseur Prue Leith, while seasoned entertainers Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding took on the role of being the show’s hosts. The key traditions are that contestants try to impress the panel with a fine selection of beautifully-crafted and delicious cakes, tarts, breads and more. Rahul’s skills became clear early on in the series, when he won a double-whammy of Star Baker accolades and the first ever Hollywood Handshake for a Showstopper.
“I never ever dreamed I would get into Bake Off, let alone win it. After winning, at home I wrapped the trophy in a pillowcase, and I am quite messy, so it looked hidden amongst the clothes and laundry in the linen cupboard. I watched the final with my parents who are over from India and friends and colleagues. I have no idea what the reaction will be back home. An Indian paper published a story recently about me taking part, and the family were surprised as I didn’t really tell anyone at home that I was doing it, so they will get a shock when they see the result,” Rahul said in an interview.
The final show, which aired on 30th october 2018, was not controversy. During the showstopper, one of Rahul’s storage glass jar exploded under the intense heat, which resulted in shards of broken glass shattered all over his bench, potentially contaminating his bakes. This required cleaning up from the production team. As a result, he was given an extra 15 minutes for the challenge.
“When the glass measuring jug shattered on the worktop I got such a shock because it came out of nowhere — I was busy making caramel, toasting hazelnuts and making my chocolate cake mixture. It broke into a thousand pieces and went into everything, so it all had to be chucked, it almost broke me and I really thought that was it for me. Fortunately I was able to prove that I could finish it.”
“I love my work as a research scientist, and I think baking is a combination of physics, engineering and chemistry. Baking and science are very related, the ratios have to be correct to make it work, and I would like to make the science behind baking more accessible to everyone.”
“Winning Bake Off is about the coolest thing that I have done in my life, and I hope it will help me gather some more confidence. I would like to say thank you to all of those who believed and trusted in me for all their lovely comments.”
About Rahul Mandal
Rahul Mandal grew up in Kolkata, surrounded by his family, and moved to the UK on a university scholarship when he was 23. Once here, he discovered an abundance of new flavours and cuisines that have inspired his ‘East-meets-West’-style of baking. As a research scientist, Rahul’s instinct is to undertake every bake with a forensic attitude to research and an uncompromising attention to detail. He is fascinated by the science of baking, but also loves to ensure (or at least try) that his creations are beautiful, full of flavour and structurally elegant, too.
