Great British Bake Off teaser trailer

Great British Bake Off’s reigning champion Syabira Yusoff has praised the show’s former host, Matt Lucas, for his motivational words when she faced struggles in the final.

Last year, Syabira impressed judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood during the finale with her showstopper as she was crowned winner of the series.

However, the contestant didn’t believe she would have been able to finish if it wasn’t for the help of Matt Lucas, who decided to leave the Channel 4 show this year.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk on behalf of People’s Postcode Lottrery, Syabira revealed the contestants had no indication of Matt’s plans to quit his role last season.

She said: “No, it came as a surprise. We thought we were going to see him again next year on TV. No indication at all that he was going to leave so yeah, it was quite surprising.”

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However, the baker had nothing but praise for Matt as she revealed how he had helped her during the finale last year.

Syabira added: “He is a very lovely man. So, the function of the host is to not only make jokes in the tent, but Matt Lucas, as well as Noel Fielding, they were there when we really, really panicked.

“When it was the final, I didn’t think I could finish my bakes. It was horrendous.”

Syabira confessed that with only half an hour left to go until they had to finish their final bake, she didn’t think she’d have time.

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The Bake Off star continued: “Then Matt Lucas was just in front of my bench and he said, ‘Syabira, just do this, get it done with and this is the last one, and after that, you’ll be fine’.

“So, it’s what they do behind the camera that is something more meaningful for me, and it made us all connect really well.”

Replacing Matt in the tent this year is This Morning’s Alison Hammond who has joined Noel in welcoming a fresh batch of budding bakers.

So far in the competition, the show has said goodbye to three contestants, Amos, Keith, and Abbi.

In the next episode of the competition, the remaining contestants will tackle chocolate week.

Starting off with a tricky torte, a cheesecake in the technical and a chocolate box in the showstopper, the bakers will have to put their skills to the test.

Which contestant will be the next to leave the show?

The Great British Bake Off continues Wednesday on Channel 4 from 8pm

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