Junior Bake Off 2016 winner announced

Nikki, aged 12 from north London, has won the coveted title of ‘Junior Bake Off’ champion for 2016.

‘Junior Bake Off’ is a BAFTA award-winning series made by Love Productions, producer of the BBC1 hit format ‘The Great British Bake Off’. It airs on CBBC, a BBC children’s television strand aimed at children aged from six to 12.

Thousands of kids ages from nine to 12 applied to take part in this year’s series, but only 40 entered the Bake Off  tent. Over 10 heats, their cake-making, biscuit-baking, pastry-making and bread-making skills were tested to the limit.

In each of the heats they faced two challenges: the technical bake and the showstopper, where, while baking to the judges’ exacting briefs, they could let their imaginations run wild.

Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes were the hosts while top chef Allegra McEvedy and Nadiya Hussain, the 2015 winner of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ were the judges.

Nikki started by baking scones in the tent for her first technical challenge and ended with a show-stopping White Chocolate and Raspberry Tiered Royal Garden Cake for the final.

She said: “‘Bake Off’ has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Everyone put me at ease. From the judges and presenters to the crew and the behind the scenes team, they were all brilliant. I will never forget it.

Nikki added: “The next bake for me will be making the family Christmas cake, and I’m going for a traditional gingerbread cake with caramel biscoffee icing. Dad can do the tasting and mum can do the washing up. It’s going to be a great Christmas!”

Nikki with presenters Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes and judges Allegra McEvedy and Nadiya Hussain