Reality TV News
Great British Bake Off final is most-watched non-sporting TV event of year
By Ben Lee
The Great British Bake Off soared to a series high for the final, averaging 12.3 million, according to overnight figures.
The 2014 series of the baking competition concluded with 12.29m between 8pm and 9pm on BBC One, with an audience share of 49%.
The final peaked in the last quarter of the hour, with 13m (50.5%) watching at 8.45pm.
The figures mean that it is the most-watched non-sporting event of the year so far on UK TV.
In comparison, last year's Strictly Come Dancing grand final scored an average of 11.5m viewers for BBC One.
Last week's Bake Off semi-final was seen by 8.82m (38.6%), while the 2013 final won by Frances Quinn attracted an average audience of 8.42m (32.6%) on BBC Two.
Later in the night, BBC Two's Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice appealed to 1.97m (11.4%) between 10pm and 10.40pm.
This year's Bake Off final saw Nancy Birtwhistle named champion. The 60-year-old became the oldest ever winner on the show after beating Richard Burr and Luis Troyano.
Both Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood said that they were in complete agreement over who they crowned winner, with Berry describing Birtwhistle as having "instinct" and being "a perfectionist".
Hollywood added: "Everything just joined together for the final. Nancy absolutely nailed it."
The 2014 series of the baking competition concluded with 12.29m between 8pm and 9pm on BBC One, with an audience share of 49%.
© BBC / Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon
Nancy Birtwhistle was crowned the 2014 Bake Off champion
The final peaked in the last quarter of the hour, with 13m (50.5%) watching at 8.45pm.
The figures mean that it is the most-watched non-sporting event of the year so far on UK TV.
In comparison, last year's Strictly Come Dancing grand final scored an average of 11.5m viewers for BBC One.
Last week's Bake Off semi-final was seen by 8.82m (38.6%), while the 2013 final won by Frances Quinn attracted an average audience of 8.42m (32.6%) on BBC Two.
© BBC / Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon
Bake Off judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry
Later in the night, BBC Two's Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice appealed to 1.97m (11.4%) between 10pm and 10.40pm.
This year's Bake Off final saw Nancy Birtwhistle named champion. The 60-year-old became the oldest ever winner on the show after beating Richard Burr and Luis Troyano.
Both Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood said that they were in complete agreement over who they crowned winner, with Berry describing Birtwhistle as having "instinct" and being "a perfectionist".
Hollywood added: "Everything just joined together for the final. Nancy absolutely nailed it."
