7 things we've learnt from 2014 Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle

Congratulations to 2014 Bake Off winner Nancy. We're looking back on all the things we've learnt from this rather talented 60-year old (Bake Off's oldest winner so far!) and we've learnt a lot...

Congratulations to 2014 Bake Off winner Nancy. We're looking back on all the things we've learnt from this rather talented 60-year old (Bake Off's oldest winner so far!) and we've learnt a lot.

From how to speed up dough resting time with a microwave to avoiding calling Paul Hollywood by his name, we've loved every moment of series five and Nancy Birthwhistle has been one of our highlights...

1. Make sure you never overload your mixer with flour

Poor Nancy got a bit of a shock when she turned on her stand mixer and it sprayed flour out in all directions (and in the final too!). Luckily, Paul and Mary didn't spot her but the camera man got a rather humerous shot of her reaction. Bless!

2. Be confident

Do what you've got to do or as Nancy did. She just got her head down and baked without looking at what anyone else was doing. She went with her gut instinct and we respect her for that!

3. If you've got a crush on someone, don't call them by their name

Nancy always referred to Paul Hollywood as "the male judge". At first we thought it was because she'd forgotten his name, then we realised it was because she had a little crush on him - or so she said in the finals. We don't blame you Nancy!

4. The microwave could be your new best friend

Nancy had a few tricks up her sleeves that we rather admired, one of which was her ability to speed up her dough rising time by popping it into the microwave on a low heat - what a risky, but genius idea! Try it if you dare...

5. It's ok to cry on national TV

She welled up a few times over the series but Nancy let it all go when crowned the Bake Off champion (who could blame her?!). Tears of joy and probably relief from not having to bake for Mary and Paul ever again.

6. Consistency is key

Week after week, Nancy's bakes were consistent. From a soft, buttery croissant to a delicious loaf of freshly baked bread, she never had a really bad week.

7. Everything is better when it's homemade

Nancy was always pulling out her homemade jams or homemade chutneys and we loved her for it. She apparently even rears her own turkeys at home for Christmas. Amazing!

Want some more Bake Off action? Look no further...

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Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies