London’s Crystelle Pereira advances to next week’s Great British Bake Off 2021 final

Northwest London resident Crystelle Pereira, 26, has advanced to next Tuesday’s The Great British Bake Off final after being named star baker in last night’s episode.

Crystelle will join fellow bakers Chigs Parmer and Gieuseppe Dell’Anno in the tent next week as they battle it out to decide who wins the competition.

The 26-year-old impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith throughout patisserie week, baking a jaw-dropping signature as well as an exciting showstopper.

Despite finishing near the bottom of the pile in the dreaded technical challenge where all four participants were tasked with making a tasty sable breton tart, Crystelle topped the standings.

Paul Hollywood was in a generous mood in Tuesday’s semi-final, giving out a record breaking THREE of his infamous handshakes in the opening signature task.

The only one who missed out was shock-exit Jurgen, who despite being the frontrunner to win the Bake Off, was given his marching orders at the end of the show.

Fans fled to social media to react furiously at the decision to send the German baker back to his home in Sussex:

Crystelle was left agasp by both being named star baker and the decision to send Jurgen home, but she could not hide her disbelief at being a Great British Bake Off finalist when she gave this reaction on Instagram:

Ms Pereira is set to become the eighth London resident to reach the Great British Bake Off final - but only one lucky contestant from the capital has tasted victory.

Joanne Wheatley, 52, hails from Essex and won the competition in its second series in 2011.

Could Crystelle Pereira be next?

Find out next Tuesday on Channel 4 starting at 8.00pm.