Junior Bake Off final spot for Theale Green School pupil Deji Adeyemi
A twelve-year-old from Theale battled it out in the final of Junior Bake Off, writes Caitlyn Gregory.
The finale of the much-loved show aired on Friday, January 24 and Theale Green School pupil, Deji Adeyemi, was one of the four bakers competing for the title of Junior Bake Off Champion.
And everything was going well until Deji’s ‘best ever birthday party cake’ sadly collapsed.
Despite the unfortunate ending, Deji was the only Triple Star Baker of the season, making his whole family justifiably proud.
The show, presented by Harry Hill and judged by Liam Charles and Ravneet Gill, began with 16 contestants, all aged between nine-12.
As this was the last year he could apply, Deji said he was desperate to appear on the programme. He recalled the excitement of being selected, saying it “was a nice feeling because it meant I was quite good at something”.
Although he said it was a time full of excitement and nerves, Deji saw his Junior Bake Off experience as “life-changing” and a brilliant opportunity to develop his skills.
He said: “The judges’ comments really helped me learn not to do too much. They gave me tips and feedback to apply to my bakes.”
He said his highlight of the series was the showstopper in episode 2, where he made an impressive biscuit mobile, which blew away the judges.
Deji’s love for baking started at the age of just five and he is often found in the kitchen at home, experimenting with new recipes or whipping up his signature red velvet cake.
His competitive nature when it comes to baking is not limited to the television either - the whole family tries to produce the best sweet treats in friendly rivalries at home.
Looking to the future, Deji has ambitions to pursue baking professionally with plans to go to culinary college in France after completing his A-levels.
However, for now he enjoys sharing his baking creations with family and friends and says his passion for food comes from the joy and connections it brings.
For anyone inspired by Deji’s Junior Bake Off journey, he encourages fellow bakers to: “Chase your dreams. Don’t let anyone stop you.”
All pictures courtesy of C4.
