Bake Off winner Matty Edgell’s rise to the top: How PE teacher went from ‘underdog’ to stealing the show and earning himself a legion of female fans (including Alison Hammond) – but sorry ladies he’s taken!
Matty Edgell was crowned the winner of the Great British Bake Off on Tuesday night’s final episode after beating other finalists Dan and Josh to the prize.
The handsome PE teacher, 28, from Cambridgeshire, impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith to take the crown.
Matty had an incredible rise on the series after calling himself the ‘official underdog’ from the contestants in the tent to making it all the way to the end.
He won a legion of female fans as the weeks went by and host Alison Hammond couldn’t resist a cheeky flirt with him while checking in on his bakes.
During his time on the show he was supported by his fiancée Lara – who he confirmed his engagement to after the win.
Matty revealed that he had proposed during a trip to Sorrento in Italy and gushed that it was one of the ‘happiest moments of his life’.
So here MailOnline takes a look at who Matty is and his rise on the show:
Matty Edgell was crowned the winner of the Great British Bake Off on Tuesday night’s final episode after beating other finalists Dan and Josh to the prize
The handsome PE teacher, 28, from Cambridgeshire, impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith to take the crown
Who is Matty Edgell?
Matty is a 28-year-old PE and science teacher at Hampton College from Cambridgeshire who starred on the 2023 series of Bake Off.
The star first started baking as a child after being impressed by a teddy bear cake his grandma made him for his fourth birthday.
He has previously said he aims to be on par with his grandmother’s legendary bakes, including the South Pole-inspired cake she made for him at Christmas time.
He has described his baking style as rustic but neat, and his flavour preferences as quite traditional, particularly loving chocolate, citrus and nuts.
Matty said that his students were ‘impressed’ by his baking skills when the competition started airing on Channel 4.
‘The pupils at school were a bit impressed that I was in the series and I did get some really nice comments at school,’ he told Channel 4.
‘I know they will think it’s cool that I have won but at the same time, they will be really surprised.
‘They have invested in me throughout the series so there will be a sense of pride with them all sharing the win with me.’
The star first started baking as a child after being impressed by a teddy bear cake his grandma made him for his fourth birthday
He has previously said he aims to be on par with his grandmother’s legendary bakes, including the South Pole-inspired cake she made for him at Christmas time
Underdog at start
While on the series, Matty called himself ‘the official underdog’, since many of his fellow contestants had more baking experience by comparison.
Matty said he thought he ‘wasn’t good enough’ to compete in the series and so put off applying.
But eventually, after some encouragement from his fiancée, he became confident in his own baking talent after first learning from his grandmother while growing up.
He reiterated the ‘underdog’ rhetoric in his exit interview.
He said: ‘Without a shadow of a doubt, I was the official underdog throughout the series.
‘So I think everyone was surprised when I made it to the final and then won it, including me!’
He watched the final at home with Lara and his friends and family while tucking into cake.
Popular with the ladies (including Alison Hammond)
During the series many fans pointed out that Alison Hammond might have had a crush on Matty
The presenter was seen enjoying weeks of flirting on the Channel 4 cookery programme – with some members of the audience speculating that she was ‘in love’ with the teacher
During the series many fans pointed out that Alison Hammond might have had a crush on Matty.
The presenter was seen enjoying weeks of flirting on the Channel 4 cookery programme – with some members of the audience speculating that she was ‘in love’ with the teacher.
Alison, who is single since splitting with landscape gardener Ben Hawkins earlier this year, was said by those watching at home to be so taken with him that they compared Bake Off to a dating show.
‘Alison and Matty are in love and I cannot blame them,’ said one viewer, while another wrote: ‘Alison coming on to Matty is better than any dating show we’ve ever watched.’
Meanwhile one fan joked that the This Morning host, 48, and Matty had a future together, saying: ‘When they do the ‘What the contestants have been up to’ segment, I hope Matty and Alison have run away and opened a patisserie in the south of France.’
Alison’s flirtations with Matty had become a talking point not just for viewers but also those who worked on the show.
One insider said: ‘When it was recorded earlier this year, we all knew that the chemistry would become a thing.’
Alison wasn’t the only one to take a shine to Matty – the show’s fans have also been smitten.
One wrote: ‘Sexy Matty having the best sausage rolls… Matty’s sausage wins.’
Engaged to blonde beauty
Matty revealed that he is engaged to his girlfriend Lara after being crowned the champion in the final
Lara is seen in the white dress standing next to Matty as he poses with his family after winning the show
Matty revealed in his exit interview that he had proposed during a trip to Sorrento in Italy and gushed that it was one of the ‘happiest moments of his life’ (seen together)
Matty revealed that he is engaged to his girlfriend Lara after being crowned the champion in the final.
The news was shared just after the teacher overcame competition from Josh and Dan to win the Channel 4 series on Tuesday night’s episode.
Following the announcement that Matty had won, The Great British Bake Off’s X (formerly Twitter) account shared a post congratulating Matty and Lara on their engagement.
The post read: ‘A huge congratulations from all of us at Bake Off to Matty and Lara on their engagement!’
Matty revealed in his exit interview that he had proposed during a trip to Sorrento in Italy and gushed that it was one of the ‘happiest moments of his life’.
In the photo Lara showed off her beautiful dazzling ring as he hugged her and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek.
The star has yet to share the announcement to his own Instagram.
Matty has previously shared that Lara was the one responsible for signing him up for the competition.
After being named the winner, Matty said: ‘I don’t know what to say… everyone said you should go on Bake Off and I thought it was a throwaway comment and never really listened to it. I never thought I would be on the show let alone win it!’
He sweetly added, mentioning Lara: ‘I hope GBBO might just change my life a little bit, but being a PE teacher is something I really enjoy at the moment.
‘I loved being in the tent and another of my happiest life moments was when I got engaged in Sorrento to my fiancée Lara.
‘I am not sure what’s next for me, but my next big baking project is making our wedding cake. I am just going to keep enjoying it.’
While on the series, Matty called himself ‘the official underdog’, since many of his fellow contestants had more baking experience by comparison
He told Channel 4 that his next big bake will be the mammoth task of making his own wedding cake for when he marries his fiancée Lara.
In his Instagram post after the final aired he said of Lara: ‘I can’t imagine I was fun to live with at times and I am so grateful for the sacrifices you made for me throughout this! I don’t think I made dinner for 10 weeks.
‘ You had to live the Bake Off journey with me but never got to do the fun part. Through the highs and lows of my journey, you picked me up countless times, supported me and gave me the confidence I needed each week.
‘Without you I wouldn’t have been able to do any of it (literally, Lara, I now thank you for applying for me.’
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