Bake Off champion Peter Sawkins insists he’ll complete his Edinburgh University degree

He became the youngest ever winner of the Great British Bake Off after the 2020 final aired on Tuesday night.

But Peter Sawkins, 20, isn’t getting carried away by his newfound culinary fame.

The student – who studies finance at Edinburgh University – has insisted he’ll finish his degree before taking on any Bake Off related offers. 

Bake Off champion: Peter Sawkins, 20, isn’t getting carried away by his newfound culinary fame

‘I am studying at Edinburgh University, and it’s my third year in a four-year degree,’ he said, as reports The Mirror. ‘I’m looking forward to baking a few things at a relaxed pace for friends and family who won’t be scrutinising quite as closely as the judges.

‘I don’t know what will come out of this but I hope there are a few fun opportunities that I can take up!’ 

Of his experience on the much-loved show, Peter said: ‘I can’t recommend doing it enough. You get to meet enthusiastic, energetic and passionate people that all love a shared common interest!’

Peter revealed how he celebrated his win, watching the final, which was recorded over the summer, with his university flatmates.

Studious: The student - who studies finance at Edinburgh University - has insisted he'll finish his degree before taking on any Bake Off related offers

Studious: The student – who studies finance at Edinburgh University – has insisted he’ll finish his degree before taking on any Bake Off related offers

The baker was unable to tell his housemates that he had won the show, and as he explained to Radio 2 they all sat down to watch the final together, as they have done for every episode of the 2020 series. 

Speaking on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, the University of Edinburgh student explained his three housemates’ epic reaction as they found out he had won at the same time as millions of other viewers on Tuesday. 

‘It was great fun, it was just celebrations, lots and lots of cheering so apologies to the flats above and below,’ he laughed. ‘It might have been a bit loud just after 9 o’clock.’

‘We just watched it as we’ve been watching the whole series. It was really nice, it was quite relaxed. It was a shame that we couldn’t do a big party… but we had a lovely time, the four of us in the flat, nice and chilled out.’

Winner! GBBO 2020 champion Peter revealed how he celebrated his win, watching the final, which was recorded over the summer, with his university flatmates

Winner! GBBO 2020 champion Peter revealed how he celebrated his win, watching the final, which was recorded over the summer, with his university flatmates

‘I made a cake. We ate that alongside it. It was a really lovely time.’

He also celebrated virtually with his Bake Off family, revealing the group are still in constant contact.  

‘We’ve got the Bake Off bubble WhatsApp group. It’s popping off every day. We’ve just become a wee family, we’ve got so close so fast, we’re all in together, 24 hours a day and it couldn’t be a better group to share the whole experience with.’

Peter beat Laura Adlington and Dave Friday in the tense finale, and he admitted to Radio 2 that while his journey in the tent may have looked like smooth sailing, there were some stressful moments.  

‘It was in the quarter final, it was just my bane throughout the entire process, and that was the jelly cake,’ he said of his darkest day.

‘I’m so proud that I managed to get a standing up jelly cake out, but that one still gives me nightmares everyone once in a while.’

Champ: Peter beat Laura Adlington and Dave Friday in the tense finale, and didn't tell his uni flatmates he had won before they sat down together to watch the final

Champ: Peter beat Laura Adlington and Dave Friday in the tense finale, and didn’t tell his uni flatmates he had won before they sat down together to watch the final

The sizzling summer temperatures also caused issues for the bakers, with Peter explaining that ‘the general rule of thumb is that whatever temperature it is outside, the tent can get 5 to 10 degrees hotter – all the ovens in there, all the cameras, all the people. It gets stinking hot, it’s not particularly pleasant in that respect.’

As for what’s next for the talented baker, Peter insisted he is concentrating on his studies for his accounting and finance degree, explaining:  ‘I’ve got an assignment due next Friday, a couple of exams in two weeks’ time, so I think that’s what right next on the agenda!’

The Great British Bake Off finale on Tuesday garnered the show’s largest ever audience since its move from BBC to Channel 4 in 2017. 

The official Twitter account for the show shared details of the numbers on the big night, including that peak viewing numbers were 10.4million, an average of 9.2million people tuned in and 63.5% of the share was young viewers.

Everyone's a winner: The Great British Bake Off finale on Tuesday garnered the show's largest ever audience since its move from BBC to Channel 4 in 2017

Everyone’s a winner: The Great British Bake Off finale on Tuesday garnered the show’s largest ever audience since its move from BBC to Channel 4 in 2017