Bristol’s Bake Off Briony: ‘I will treasure every moment of my time in the tent’

Briony Williams has gone to her local pub, the Gloucester Old Spot in Horfield, every week with 40 friends to watch this season of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4.

But next week’s final will be the first without Briony following her becoming the ninth baker to leave the tent in Patisserie Week.

Briony’s Bake Off journey began with her making a biscuit Bristol selfie in episode one and saw her being named Star Baker in Pastry Week, which she of course celebrated with her friends in the pub:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BocdkXaHJAz

“Being a semi-finalist was the most incredible feeling ever,” Briony said. “I was really proud that I got as far as I did, I didn’t think I would make it through the first episode let alone to the ninth.”

Briony’s final episode didn’t go to plan, with the mirror glaze on her Seven Veils cake being overcooked, each element of her Showstopper going wrong and ending up with raw pastry, and her chocolate eclairs having too much salt and no filling as she ran out of time.

Thirty-three-year-old Briony said that she was “dreading” being on television but got used to it quite quickly

“There are some cringeworthy moments but a lot of the positive side was seeing my friends and family get excited about me being on telly, and of course it was lovely to see the tent again on screen this time.

“I realised quickly that I had to focus on what I was doing and not worry about the cameras, they are an easy distraction but you have to time manage constantly. By the end I felt so connected with the cameramen and production crew, that you end up chatting away to them and forget that they have a camera on their shoulder. And I think that shows in places in the series!”

Briony goes to the pub to watch the show with her husband Steve and their three-year-old daughter, Nora. “We have been to the same pub each week to watch the show with friends and family, there are usually about 40 of us. I make something related to that particular week, and we said from the beginning that we would do that every week, regardless of whether I am still in the show.

“My husband Steve just beams with pride and watches it squeezing my hand. Nora says mummy is on the telly but doesn’t really understand it all as she is only three.”

Briony with fellow Bake Off contestants Manon Lagreve and Ruby Bhogal

Briony added: “I really enjoy making birthday cakes for my friend’s kids, and that brings a lot of joy. When they see their Elsa cake or a Disney Princess cake, their little faces light up as they are so thrilled, that’s pretty special to me and that’s why I like baking to see people’s reactions.

“Bristol is very special to me, I was born and bred here, and came back after University. I always thought I should move away from Bristol as it’s my home town, but it’s where my family and friends are. I am very proud of Bristol, and I hope I have made the city proud by being in Bake Off.

“At the minute I don’t know what awaits me, I am an open book and excited about what could happen. I am hoping to do some more baking and put my recipes out there. It’s still a bit unknown but I want to use this opportunity to try new and different things.”

Briony will join Jo Brand on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Thursday, October 25 on Channel 4 at 8pm.