Teacher 'proud' to see student crowned star baker

A food tech teacher says he felt "really proud" watching a 21-year-old former student be chosen as the first star baker on the new series of the Great British Bake Off.

Twelve contestants took on a series of culinary challenges in the first episode of the returning Channel 4 series on Tuesday, including Mo Mahir, a university student in Birmingham.

After watching the first episode, his old teacher Sam Hayes, from George Salter Academy in West Bromwich, said: "When I found out he would be going on, I knew he would do really well."

Mahir stunned TV judges Nigella Lawson and Paul Hollywood with his peanut and caramel chocolate stout cake, placing him ahead of the rest of the pack.

Starting next week, the 12 bakers will be whittled down over a series of ten episodes until one is crowned winner.

Hayes remembers his former GCSE and A-Level Food student, a self-confessed "chaotic and random character" according to the Bake Off website, external, as incredibly talented in the kitchen.

"I'll always remember being brought some of the delicious treats Mo had baked at home, a very welcome perk of having such a talented student," he said.

"He always was an absolutely amazing baker while he was at school."

The 21-year-old, who is now studying Law at Birmingham City University, lives with his family and their three cats and likes to bring Asian flavours to traditional British classics.

Hayes said he was not going to try and claim he had "anything to do with [his] success".

"He was very much self-taught from a young age," he added.

"Seeing him on screen, he was very similar to what he was like while at college with us, very down to earth and confident, quite dry at times.

"It was really nice to see he hasn't really changed."

The student landing star baker on week one did not come as a shock to Hayes either.

"It was always cakes for him so I knew he'd do well, and I think he knew last night, you could tell by his face," he joked. "I'm really, really proud."

Other contestants vying to win the series include a paediatric doctor, a competitive sprinter, a hairdresser and a drag artist.

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