Megan’s Junior Bake Off
Budding young chef Megan Lewis certainly knows her way around a kitchen, having reached the semi-finals of the BBCTV Junior Bake Off competition.
Her culinary skills are being beamed into millions of homes nationwide as she creates mouth-watering delights which she hopes will continue to impress the judges.
Megan, a Year 8 pupil at Tonyrefail Comprehensive School, is the only Welsh contestant left on the show, a spin-off from the hugely-successful Great British Bake Off, which attracts millions of viewers each year.
The talented 13-year-old, from Pembroke Street, Tonyrefail, remains in the competition, which is currently being screened on television. Her brother Thomas and parents Wendy and David are of course extremely proud of her achievement so far.
Cllr Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Millions of young viewers have been following her every step of the way as she has made her way through this popular television series to reach the semi-finals.
“I would like to wish Megan all the best for the remainder of the competition and for the future. She is a fantastic ambassador for Rhondda Cynon Taf and for her school.”
Megan is getting used to being recognised in the street and says taking part in the series is the best thing she has ever done.
She said: “Cooking is a passion for me and I started baking cupcakes and strawberry and cream sponges at the age of eight.
“Two years later I progressed on to more ambitious creations in the kitchen but it was my best friend Amelia who encouraged me to fill in the application form for Junior Bake Off.
“I sent it off in the summer, along with 3,500 other people and was told I had made it through to the auditions stage, to which I took along a chocolate and vanilla checkerboard cake with chocolate ganache and a Prosciutto parmesan and sundried tomato plaited loaf.
“I was walking home from school when I had a call off the BBC to tell me I was on the series. I was so excited but I couldn’t tell my friends as I was sworn to secrecy.”
Aired every two years on BBCTV’s CBBC, Junior Bake Off is presented by popular childrens’ presenters Sam and Mark.
The judges include top chef and food writer Allegra McEvedy and pastry chef Graham Hornigold.
Around 40 of the country’s best junior bakers started off in the contest, with only the finest now remaining in the competition.
Megan is delighted to have reached so far in the BAFTA award-winning television series and is surprised by her instant stardom.
The contestants, aged nine to 12, enter the famous Bake Off tent and have their cake-making, biscuit-baking and bread-making skills put to the test, in a race against the clock, under the glare of the television cameras.
Throughout the 10 heats, Megan and the other competitors have been faced with the famous Technical Bake and the Showstopper Challenges.
Elaine Keeble, Headteacher at Tonyrefail Comprehensive School, said: “Everyone at the school is delighted with Megan’s success. We are all so very proud of her and what she is achieving.
“This television programme has a huge following among young viewers and Megan and her fellow contestants are encouraging and inspiring the next generation of Britain’s top bakers.”
The latest series of Junior Bake Off is being screened on CBBC and BBC Two. Please check television schedules as timings vary.
