Bake Off fans claim they ‘already know’ who’ll win 2022 series after baker is praised by Prue in first week

BAKE Off fans have claimed they already know who’ll win the 2022 series after the baker was praised by hard-to-please judge Prue Leith in the first week.

Janusz from Brighton, 34, was the first to be awarded the coveted star baker title after impressing with his Polish-inspired mini cakes.

He combined pistachio and cherry vodka liqueur to create his wuzetka bake, which Dame Prue commented was “light and boozy” which to her was “perfect”.

After winning he said that receiving the title for cake week meant "everything to him".

Janusz's extravagantly decorated showstopper of his mother's flat and its colourful floral balcony was also a big hit after the bakers were tasked with making a 3D replica of a home which meant something special to them.

Taking to Twitter, viewers said he was a clear frontrunner to take the Bake Off crown, writing: "Janusz is so adorable! My winner already!"

Another remarked: "GBBO does anyone else try to guess the winner? We reckon it'll be Janusz this year."

A third said: "Janusz "Star caker in the bake week" think he's my favourite.”

The Channel 5 series returned with a fresh batch of amateur bakers being put to the test in cake week last night.

In the technical round, they were instructed to create a red velvet cake with six layers in two hours by Paul Hollywood, who described it as a "classic" but reminded them to concentrate on their sponge and use of food colouring.

Cardiovascular research associate Syabira placed first in the challenge, which is judged blind, with Hollywood simply describing her bake as "fantastic".

The 32-year-old baker, who moved from Malaysia to London, became emotional and said "my heart just melts" after receiving the praise.

While James, a 25-year-old nuclear scientist from Cumbria, came 12th with Dame Prue explaining that they "didn't like the decoration much" of his cake and there was "not quite enough cream in the middle".

Will was the first baker to be booted from the series last night, after he recreated his former north London flat made from alternating chocolate and orange sponge, but it failed to impress the judges.

Paul admitted that he had overbaked every layer, adding: "I think the chocolate could have been more punchy, love the orange, but it comes down to the baking."