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Candice Brown declared winner of BBC's final Bake Off series

Candice Brown has been crowned champion of the Great British Bake Off, which aired for the last time on the BBC tonight.

The 31-year-old PE teacher beat off stiff competition from 25-year-old Rolls-Royce aerospace engineer Andrew Smyth, and garden designer Jane Beedle, 61, for the coveted trophy.

She said: "When they said my name that means more to me than anyone will ever realise.

"I have low self belief, even though my friends and family constantly build my confidence up. So it was a big moment in my life, probably the biggest so far.

"I felt that everything happens for a reason, and I did it, and that makes me smile so much. In fact, I can't stop smiling."

Judge Mary Berry said: "Well deserved for her determination and passion, she really has excelled."

During the series, Brown was named star baker three times, Beedle was the first to hold the title, and Smyth had been awarded the honour twice in a row including in the semi-final.

The final show of the seventh series, which had a royal theme, saw the three amateur bakers create a signature challenge involving meringues made up of three layers.

Both Candice and Jane earned the coveted "Hollywood handshake" from judge Paul Hollywood for their meringues.

There was also a technical challenge where the contestants had to complete a British classic.

They were instructed to make a Victoria sandwich cake filled with jam and buttercream but were given no instructions, only ingredients and tins.

And the showstopper, which was said to be the most complex ever set off in Bake Off history, with the most bakes requested for a challenge.

The bakers were tasked with each creating a picnic fit for the Queen in five hours, consisting of one chocolate celebration cake, 12 puff pastry sausage rolls, 12 mini quiches, 12 savoury scones and 12 fruit and custard tarts.

Brown was announced the winner at a celebration attended by the family and friends of the three finalists, as well as the other bakers they knocked out in previous rounds.

The seventh series of Bake Off has also seen much drama take place off-screen.

In September, the BBC announced it had lost its contract to broadcast the show because it could no longer afford to keep it.

The programme's makers went with Channel 4 in a deal speculated to be worth £75m.

At the time, Richard McKerrow from Love Productions said: "It's tremendously exciting to have found a broadcaster who we know will protect and nurture The Great British Bake Off for many years to come."

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Tonight's show was also the last time the original line-up of hosts will be seen together.

Judge Mary Berry and presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins all opted to bow out when it moves channel next year.

But co-judge Paul Hollywood will follow the show to its new home.

Love Productions is yet to reveal who else will front the programme alongside Hollywood.

Mary Berry has said she will work with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins again, but joked a future project may involve gardening instead of baking.

Last year's final was the UK's most watched television show of 2015.

It was won by Nadiya Hussain, who has now rocketed into the world of baking stardom with a recent TV series, The Chronicles Of Nadiya.

She has also published two books and was even chosen by Buckingham Palace to bake the Queen's 90th birthday cake.